Dhaka: The government has nominated two more distinguished personalities for the ‘Swadhinata Padak- 2018’ (Independence Award) in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the respective fields.

The recipients are-Cultural Affairs Minister Assaduzzaman Noor (culture) and Channel I director Shykh Seraj (agricultural journalism).

Earlier on March 6, the government nominated 16 distinguished personalities - late Kazi Zakir Hasan, martyred intellectual SMA Rashidul Hasan, late Shankar Gobinda Chowdhury, Bir Uttam Air Vice-marshal Sultan Mahmud, late M Abdur Rahim, late Bhupati Bhushan Chowdhury alias Manik Chowdhury, Shaheed Lt M Anwarul Azim, late Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, Shaheed Amanullah Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Shaheed Matiur Rahman Mallik, Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque and Amzadul Haque (Independence and Liberation War), Dr AK MD Ahsan Ali (Medical Science), Prof AK Azad Khan (Social Service), Selina Hossain (Literature) and Dr Md Abdul Mazid (Food Security) were nominated for the award.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the awards at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city on March 25, said a PID handout issued on Monday.