The government today announced the names of eight eminent personalities for Independence Award-2015 in recognition of their glorious and outstanding contributions at the national level.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the awards at a function in city's Osmany Memorial Auditorium on March 25, said an official release.

The nominees are: commandant Manik Chowdhury (posthumously) who played special role in conducting the Liberation War in grater Sylhet, Mamun Mahmud (posthumously) who was killed by occupation Pakistani army for extending cooperation to freedom fighters while working as DIG of Rajshahi range in 1971, former finance minister Shah ASM Kibria (posthumously) who expressed his allegiance to the Bangladesh government while working at the Pakistan's embassy in Washington in 1971 and mobilised public opinion in favour of the Liberation War, Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, a senior politician and adviser to the Bangladesh government in exile for independence and Liberation War, Prof Anisuzzaman, noted literary personality and educationist, for his outstanding contribution to literature, renowned film actor Abdur Razzak for culture, Dr Mohammad Hossain Mandol, renowned agricultural researcher and former director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute for his contribution to research and training and renowned journalist Santosh Gupta (posthumously) for his contribution to journalism.