Ahsan Habib was a Bangladeshi poet and literary figure in Bengali culture. He was born in the village of Shankarpasha, in Pirojpur. Before the India-Pakistan partition, he worked on several literary magazines: Takbir, Bulbul (1937–38) and The Saogat (1939-43) and he was a staff artiste at the Kolkata Centre of All India Radio. After partition he came to Dhaka and worked on Daily Azad, Monthly Mohammadi, Daily Krishak, Daily Ittehad, Weekly Prabaha, etc.
Syed Mujtaba Ali was a Bengali writer, journalist, travel enthusiast, academic, scholar and linguist. He lived in Bangladesh, India, Germany, Afghanistan and Egypt.
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury was a Bangladeshi-born British writer, journalist, columnist, political analyst and poet. He wrote the lyrics to "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano", a widely celebrated song commemorating the Bengali Language Movement. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1967, Ekushey Padak in 1983, and Independence Day Award in 2009.
Rizia Rahman was a Bangladeshi novelist. She had a number of novels and short stories to her credit. Her works cut across all genres. She was best known for the novel Bong Theke Bangla. She was the recipient of Bangla Academy Literary Award (1978). As of 2018, she had published more than 50 novels and short story collections during her long career.
Sardar Jainuddin was a Bangladeshi novelist. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1967 and Ekushey Padak in 1994 posthumously.
Nilufar Yasmin was a Bangladeshi singer of Nazrul Sangeet, Rajanikanta Geeti, Dwijendra Geeti and Atul Prasdi genre. She was the fourth of five Yasmin sisters of Bangladesh music. Her siblings are Farida Yasmin, Fauzia Yasmin, Nazma Yasmin, and Sabina Yasmin. She was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2004 by the Government of Bangladesh. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her performance in the film Shuvoda (1986).
Sikdar Aminul Haq was a Bangladeshi poet. In recognition of his contribution in language and literature, the government of Bangladesh posthumously awarded him the country's second highest civilian award Ekushey Padak in 2020.
Nurul Momen was a Bangladeshi playwright, educator, director, broadcast personality, orator, humorist, dramatist, academician, satirist, belletrist, essayist, columnist, translator and poet. He served as a faculty member in the capacities of professor and dean at the faculty of Law in the University of Dhaka. He also served as a lawyer. He is called "Father of Bangladeshi theatre" and "Natyaguru" of Bangladesh. He was awarded the Bangla Academy Award in 1961. He was also honoured by the People's Republic of Bangladesh with the Ekushey Padak in 1978.
Abdus Shakur was a Bangladeshi litterateur and musicologist. He was awarded Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in 2014 for his contribution to language and literature.
Sayeed Ahmed was a Bangladeshi dramatist, playwright, writer and sitar player. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1974 and Ekushey Padak in 2010 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Rokanuzzaman Khan was a Bangladeshi journalist and litterateur. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1998 by the Government of Bangladesh. He was the founder director of children's organization Kochi Kanchar Mela.
Keramat Moula is a Bangladeshi theater activist and art director. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2014 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Shamsuzzaman Khan was a Bangladeshi academician, folklorist, and writer who served as president of the Bangla Academy from June 2020 until his death in April 2021. He also served as the director general of the academy during 2009–2018. He was notable for editing book series on folk culture of 64 different districts in 64 volumes and collections of folklore series in 114 volumes. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2001, Ekushey Padak in 2009 and Independence Day Award in 2017 by the government of Bangladesh.
Shujeo Shyam was a Bangladeshi singer, composer, and music director. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Music Director four times for the films Hason Raja (2002), Joyjatra (2004), Obujh Bou (2010) and Joiboti Konyar Mon (2021). He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2018 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Ahmed Rafiq is a Bangladeshi language movement activist, writer and researcher on Rabindranath Tagore and his literature. He achieved Ekushey Padak in 1995 by the Government of Bangladesh. Tagore Research Institute in Kolkata conferred the Rabindratattacharya title on him in 2011.
Md. Khurshid Alam is a Bangladeshi playback singer. His notable songs include Chumki Choleche Eka Pothe, Bondi Pakhir Moto, Maa Go Maa, Miss Lanka, Ajke Na Hoi Bhalobasho, Dheere Dheere Chol Ghora, Chupi Chupi Bolo Keu Jeney Jabe and Jodi Bou Shajo Go. His career has spanned more than four decades, in which he sang over 300 songs. He was conferred the Ekushey Padak from the Government of Bangladesh in 2018 and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Channel i Music Awards (2017) for his contribution to Bangladeshi film music. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gaan e Gaan e Gunijon Shongbordhona, by Citibank NA in 2019.
Apel Mahmood is a Bangladeshi singer and freedom fighter. He is one of the performers of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 and best known for the song "Mora Ekti Phulke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori". He was awarded an Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh's second highest civilian award, in 2005 by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution in music.
Ashraf Siddiqui was a Bangladeshi poet, researcher, folklorist, and essayist. He was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1964 and Ekushey Padak in 1988 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Fazl-e-Khuda was a Bangladeshi poet, musician, songwriter, and administrator. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2023 posthumously for his contribution to music. His written song "Salam Salam Hajar Salam" ranked 12 in the 2006 top 20 BBC's list of the greatest Bengali songs of all time.
