The government has decided to decorate 14 distinguished personalities and Bangladesh Navy with this year's Independence Award-2016 in recognition to their glorious and credible contributions in the national level.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the awards to this year's recipients at Osmani Memorial auditorium in the city on March 24.

The recipients of this year's Independence Award in the fields of independence and Liberation War are: 1) Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith for defecting for Bangladesh government while working in Pakistan embassy in United States in 1971 and as an organiser for creating public opinion in favour of war of liberation abroad, 2) Jute and Textiles Minister M Imazuddin Pramanik as an organiser of war of liberation and a freedom fighter who discharged his duties in the freedom fighters' training camp, operation camp and refugee camp in 1971, 3) Late Moulvi Asmat Ali Khan as a successful politician, freedom fighter and noted social worker, 4) Squadron Leader (Retd) Badrul Alam (Bir Uttam), a successful pilot of F-6 supersonic aircraft who had a prominent role in the formation process of Bangladesh Air Force after independence of the country.

Besides, other recipients in this category are: 5) Shaheed (martyr) Shah Abdul Mazid as the police super of Rajshahi district who led formation of police force in resisting the attacks of Pakistani occupation forces in Rajshahi Police Lines in 1971, 6) M Abdul Ali, the then Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati who embraced martyrdom in the hands of the Pakistani occupation forces while leading as an organizer of the war of liberation in the district, 7) Late AKM Abdur Rouf, who defected for Bangladesh government while working in Pakistan High Commission in London and who wrote the first constitution of Bangladesh by hand in 1971, 8) KM Shihab Uddin, who defected for Bangladesh government while working in Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 1971 and who established first mission of Bangladesh in Delhi and 9) Syed Hasan Imam for playing a bold role in organising cultural activities in favour of war of liberation.

In the field of mother language--1) Late Rafiqul Islam and 2) Abdus Salam for their pioneering role in achieving recognition as the International Mother Language Day on the immortal Ekushey February (February 21).

In the field of science and technology--1) Late Prof Dr Maksudul Alam, an agriculture researcher who decoded the genome sequence of Tosha and local variety of jute. In the field of medical treatment--1) Reputed child specialist Dr Mohammad Rafi Khan (MR Khan).

In the field of culture--1) Rabindra Sangeet exponent and researcher Rezwana Chowdhury Banya.

Besides, the government has decided to decorate Bangladesh Navy with the Independence Award-2016 for its unparallel contributions in the liberation war and its untiring efforts in guarding the independence and sovereignty of the country's maritime boundary, according to a press release.