Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has handed over "Swadhinata Purashkar-2022" (Independence Award-2022), the highest national civil award of the country, to nine distinguished persons and two organisations.

She distributed the award in person in a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at Tejgaon on Thursday.

The Prime Minister handed over the award to the two living freedom fighters, Sirajuddin Ahmed and Abdul Jalil, after coming down from the stage.

She later took part in a photo session with the recipients.

The award recipients received this recognition for their glorious and outstanding contribution to their respective fields.

Among the recipients, Valiant Freedom Fighter Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury, Martyr Colonel Khandaker Nazmul Huda (Bir Bikram), Abdul Jalil, Siraj Uddin Ahmed, late Mohammad Sahiuddin Bishwas and late Sirajul Haque were nominated for the award in the "Independence and Liberation War" category.

Besided, Professor Kanak Kanti Barua and Professor Md Kamrul Islam were given the award in the "Medical" category while late architect Syed Moinul Islam was nominated in the "Architecture" category.

In Addition, the Power Division was given the award for their success for bringing Bangladesh under cent percent electricity coverage while Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute was provided the award in the 'Research and Training' category.Each award recipient received a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque of honorarium.