Seven eminent personalities of the country today received the Independence Award-2015 in recognition for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields at the national level.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the highest national award to the recipients at a function at the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

The awardees as per categories are Independence and Liberation War: Commandant Manik Chowdhury (posthumously) who had played a special role in conducting the Liberation War in greater Sylhet; Mamun Mahmud (posthumously) who was killed by occupation Pakistani army for extending cooperation to freedom fighters while working as DIG of Rajshahi range in 1971; former Finance Minister SAMS Kibria (posthumously) who expressed his allegiance to the Bangladesh government while working at the Pakistan's embassy in Washington in 1971 and mobilised public opinion in favour of the Liberation War; Literature: Professor Anisuzzaman, a renowned essayist for his outstanding contribution to literature; Culture: renowned film actor Abdur Razzak; Research and Training: Dr Mohammad Hossain Mandol, a renowned agricultural researcher and former director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute for his contribution to research and training; and Journalism: Santosh Gupta (posthumously), a renowned journalist, for his contribution to journalism.

Each of the awardees received an 18-carat gold medal weighing 50 gram, TK two lakh each and a citation.

Prof Anisuzzaman on behalf of the awardees expressed their feelings and extended their heartfelt thanks to the present government and the prime minister for honouring them with t he award.