Sixteen eminent personalities have been selected for this year's Ekushey Padak in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

On February 20, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the awards at a function in Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, said a press release of the  cultural affairs ministry yesterday.

Justice Kazi Ebadul Haque, Dr Sayeed Haider, Syed Golam Kibria (posthumous) and Dr Jashimuddin Ahmed will receive the award for their important contributions to the Language Movement.

Begum Jahanara Ahmed has been named for the award in the field of arts (television and film), Pandit Amaresh Roy Chowdhury in arts (classical music), Begum Shaheen Samad in arts (music), Amanul Haque in arts (dance), and Kazi Anwar Hossain (posthumous) in arts (painting).

Mafidul Haque has been awarded for his role in the Liberation War and Toab Khan in journalism.

Prof Dr ABM Abdullah and Mongsen Ching Monsin get the award in the field of research.

Joityprakash Dutt, Prof Dr Hayat Mahmud and Habibullah Siraji are the recipients of the award for their valuable contributions to language and literature.