The government of Bangladesh has announced that 14 distinguished individuals and the Bangladesh women's football team will be honored with the Ekushey Padak 2025 in recognition of their outstanding contributions in various fields.

In a press conference held at the Secretariat on Thursday, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki revealed the names of the awardees. The prestigious award is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of arts, literature, journalism, education, science, social service, and sports.

In the category of arts, the late Azizur Rahman will be awarded posthumously for his contribution to film. In the field of music, Ustad Nirad Baran Barua (posthumously) and Ferdous Ara will receive the honor. Renowned photographer Nasir Ali Mamun has been selected for his contributions to photography, while Rokeya Sultana will be recognized for her achievements in painting.

In the field of journalism, the posthumous award will be conferred upon Mahfuz Ullah, while Mahmudur Rahman will be honored for his contributions to journalism and human rights. In the category of culture and education, Dr. Shahidul Alam has been named as a recipient. Dr. Niaz Zaman will receive the award for her contributions to education, and Mehedi Hasan Khan has been recognized for his work in science and technology.

In the field of social service, the late Mohammad Yusuf Chowdhury will be honored posthumously. In literature and language, the prestigious award will be conferred posthumously on Helal Hafiz and Shahidul Jahir (Md. Shahidul Haque). Additionally, Moeedul Hassan will receive the award for his contributions to research.

Alongside individual recipients, the Bangladesh women’s football team will be honored with the Ekushey Padak in the sports category for their remarkable achievements and contribution to the development of women’s football in the country.

The Ekushey Padak is one of the highest civilian honors in Bangladesh, established in 1976 to commemorate the sacrifices made for the Bengali language movement. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made lasting contributions to the cultural, intellectual, and social development of the nation.