The government has named 21 winners of this year's Ekushey Padak for contributions in their respective fields.

An official release from the cultural affairs ministry disclosed the names yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the Ekushey Padak, the country's second highest civilian award, to the awardees at Osmani Memorial Auditorium on February 20.

The winners are AZM Takiullah (posthumous) and Mirza Mazharul Islam (language movement); Sheikh Sadi Khan, Shujeo Shyam, Indra Mohan Rajbanshi, Khurshid Alam and Motiul Haque Khan (music); Minu Haque (dance); Humayun Faridi (posthumous) (acting); Nikhil Sen (drama); Kalidas Karmakar (fine arts); Golam Mostofa (photography); Ranesh Moitro (journalism); Julekha Haque (posthumous) (research); Mainul Islam (economics); Ilias Kanchan (social service) and Syed Manzoorul Islam, Saiful Islam Khan (poet Hayat Saef), Subrata Barua, Robiul Hussain and Khalekdad Chowdhury (language and literature).

Each recipient will get a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque of Tk 2 lakh.