<span style="color: black;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the prestigious Ekushey Padak 2021 to 21 eminent persons of Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday on the eve of 'Amar Ekushey' day which is celebrated on February 21 to honour the martyrs of the language movement of Bangladesh. The day is also celebrated as the International Mother Language Day for the preservation and promotion of mother languages of people across the globe.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">Liberation Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Haque handed over the awards to the winners on behalf of the Prime Minister.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">Three persons including Mohatar Hossain Talukar, Shamsul Haque and Advocate Afsar Uddin were given the award posthumously for their contribution in the Language Movement of Bangladesh.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">Poet Quazi Rosy, writer Ghulam Murshid, actor Raisul Islam Asad and Bulbul Chowdhury have been named for the award under language and literature category.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">Freedom fighter Syeda Isabela has also been nominated for the award posthumously for her contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Golam Hasnayen and Fazlur Rahman Khan Faruk will also receive the award under the Liberation War category. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">Ekushey Padak was also given in music, acting, film, recitation and journalism categories among others.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">Ekushey Padak is the second highest civilian award of Bangladesh. Introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952, it is given annually to personalities for their  outstanding contribution in various fields. The winners of the award get a gold medal, Tk 400,000 and certification.</span><br />''