Twenty-one eminent personalities will get the country's second highest civilian award, the Ekushey Padak, this year in recognition of their contributions to various fields.

The Cultural Affairs Ministry announced the names yesterday.

Motahar Hossain Talukdar (posthumous), Shamsul Haque (posthumous), and Advocate Afsar Uddin Ahmed (posthumous) have been selected for their roles in the Language Movement.

Begum Papia Sarowar is being recognised for her contributions to music while Raisul Islam Asad and Salma Begum Sujata are being recognised for their contributions to the performing arts, Ahmed Iqbal Haidar is being recognised for his contribution to the field of drama and Syed Salahuddin Zaki for his contributions to film.

Dr Bhaskar Bandopandhay is being recognised for his contributions to recitation, Pavel Rahman for photography and Golam Hasnayen, Fazlur Rahman Khan Faruk and Syeda Issabela (posthumous) are being recognised for their contribution to the Liberation War.

Ajay Dasgupta is being recognised for his contributions to journalism, Prof Dr Samir Kumar Saha for research, Mahfuza Khanam for education, Dr Mirza Abdul Jalil for economics, and Prof Kazi Kamruzzaman for social service.

Kazi Rozy, Bulbul Chowdhury and Golam Murshid are being recognised for their contributions to language and literature.