The Independence Award won by the Power Division has been handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her visionary leadership in reaching electricity to every house of the country in the Mujib Year. The Power Division on Thursday was given the Independence Award-2022, the highest state honour, in recognition of its remarkable success to bring 100 per cent of the country under electricity coverage by increasing the daily power generation capacity to 25,512 MW. Read:PM distributes Independence Award to 9 people, 2 organisations State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid received the award from the PM at the award-giving ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. Later on Thursday, the state minister handed over the prestigious award (medal and certificate) to the prime minister, who is also in  charge of the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas on Friday. The power sector officials said it was possible to bring the entire country under electricity coverage thanks to Hasina’s visionary leadership, policy and strategy. “She is the architect of this glorious achievement,” they said. The prime minister earlier announced that every house of the country will be illuminated in the Mujib Year. Read:Eleven chosen for Independence Award 2022 Since taking over the responsibility of the power ministry  the PM has directly led the work to accomplish the goal of lighting up every house.  So, she deserves this honour, they said. PM’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Power Division Secretary Md Habibur Rahman were present on the occasion.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday raised an allegation of corruption and nepotism against the government in giving the Independence Award. "It's a so failed and incompetent government that it has resorted to corruption regarding Independence Award which was introduced by martyred President Ziaur Rahman," he said Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government nominated an infamous person named Amir Hamza for the award and later cancelled it, launching an investigation. “Why is he (Hamza)?  Investigate to find out the identities of other people whom you've given the award this time.  Most of them are the relatives of the ministers or the relatives of the Prime Minister,” he observed. Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, BNP's sub-committee on the Medical and Services organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club. Earlier in the day, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over "Swadhinata Padak 2022" (Independence Award-2022), the highest national civil award of the country, to nine distinguished individuals and two organisations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. Fakhrul said the government has taken plundering and corruption to such a level that there is now no alternative to ousting it from power to save the country. He also said the Awami League government has destroyed democracy and forced lakhs of people to leave their homes to avoid persecution. "They’re harassing our 35 lakh leaders and workers and pro-democracy people by filing false cases against them. They’ve made more than 600 people disappeared and killed over a thousand ones. This is the true colour of Awami League." He called upon all professionals and political parties to get united to remove the ‘fascist’ regime through a fierce mass movement and establish a truly people's government. "One thing we’ve to keep in mind is that this government is an anti-independence and anti-people one. "They (gpvt) are working on how they can make money through plundering and how they can siphon off money abroad and how they can create more scopes for relatives to make more money," the BNP leader said. Read: 100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP Depicting the ‘sorry state’ of the country, he said economists are saying that the poverty rate in the country has increased by two percent.  "People's purchasing power has declined significantly. That’s the reality. The way commodity prices have gone up and inflation has risen it is now difficult for people to survive.” Fakhrul also accused the government of spreading false information to people about the rise in GDP growth and per capita income. In their programmes,BNP's subcommittee provided seven freedom fighter physicians with crests for their contributions to their field. They are, Prof Faridul Huda, Prof Mobin Khan, Prof Shamsul Islam, Dr.  Shahadat Hossain, Prof Mominul Islam, Prof. Abdul Quddus, Prof Siraj Uddin Ahmed and Prof Abdul Haq.

The name of Amir Hamza has been dropped from the list of "Swadhinata Padak" (Independence Award) recipients due to a controversy over his past. The Cabinet Division on Friday published a revised list dropping his name. Earlier, Amir Hamza was picked for the prestigious award in the literature category posthumously.  On March 15, the government chose ten renowned personalities, including Amir Hamza, and an institution for the "Swadhinata Padak 2022", the highest state award, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury, Colonel Khandaker Nazmul Huda (posthumous), Abdul Jalil, Siraj Uddin Ahmed, Mohammad Sahiudiin Biswas (posthumous) and Sirazul Haque (posthumous) have been named for their contributions to Independence and the Liberation War. Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua and Prof Dr Md Kamrul Islam will receive the highest state award for their contributions to medicine. Read: 7 tourists lose way while visiting Sitakunda hill; rescued after 999 call Syed Mainul Hossain (posthumous) will get the award for his contribution to architecture. Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) have also been chosen for the award in the research and training category. Since 1977, Bangladesh has been recognising individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of the Independence Day.

The government has picked nine individuals and one institution for "Swadhinata Padak 2021" (Independence Award), the highest civilian award, for their outstanding contributions to the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government has been working with a goal to make Bangladesh economically self-dependent and brighten its image so that its people can move in the world stage with dignity as a victorious nation.

National Professor Dr Anisuzzaman died of old age complications at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka on Thursday. He was 83.

The name of SM Raij Uddin Ahmed has been dropped from the list of "Swadhinata Padak 2020" (Independence Award) recipients.