Indian Home Ministry made the announcement on Monday night.

Padma, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, is conferred in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.

These awards, recognising outstanding contributions of individuals in various fields, are announced every year on the eve of India's Republic Day and conferred by the President in March-April.

Sanjeeda Khatun, 87, a musicologist, was one of the founders of Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha during the Liberation War in 1971 and Chhayyanaut in the early 1960s.

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Lt Col Quazi is a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He joined the Liberation War in September 1971. He organised the 2nd Artillery Force under Sector 4 in the Sylhet region.

Bangladesh government honoured him with the prestigious ‘Bir Protik’ title for his gallantry. In 2013, he was awarded the ‘Swadhinata Padak’, the highest civilian award in Bangladesh, for his contribution to the Liberation War.

Padma Awards 2021

The Indian government has also nominated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe for this year's Padma awards, the Home Ministry said in a handout.

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This year, the President has approved conferment of 119 Padma Awards including one duo case (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).

The list comprises seven Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri Awards.

Twenty-nine of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, 16 posthumous awardees and one transgender awardee, according to the Press Information Bureau of India.