The existing Bangladeshi honours system was created after Independence of Bangladesh. The highest civilian honours are the Independence Award and Ekushey Padak. They are awarded every year. The awards are civilian awards for a broad set of achievements in fields such as Education, Arts, Civil Service, or Social Service and Liberation War. Awards were also bestowed posthumously and they are not given for foreign citizens.
The most recognized and respected gallantry awards are the Bir (Bengali : বীর) awards which are Bir Sreshtho, Bir Uttom, Bir Bikrom and Bir Protik in decreasing order of importance. They are awarded to freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and fought against the Pakistan Army in the Bangladesh Liberation War. All of these awards were introduced immediately after the Liberation War in 1971.
The 'Nakeeb Padak' (Bangla: নকীব পদক) has been awarded since 2021 for the contribution to Bengali literature.
The following are the various gallantry, service and war medals of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
Police medals are awarded every year in the annual Police Week Parade. They are awarded both for bravery and service.
The Bangladesh Armed Forces are the military forces of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. They consist of the three uniformed military services: the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy, and the Bangladesh Air Force. The Armed Forces are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Bangladesh, and are directly administered by the Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister's Office. The President of Bangladesh serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh has the third-largest defence budget in South Asia. The Bangladeshi military is the 37th strongest in the world and the third most powerful military force in South Asia. Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs during peacetime, but during wartime, they fall under the command of the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Navy, respectively.
The Bir Sreshtho, is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered martyrs.
Bir Uttom is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho and the highest gallantry award for a living individual.
Bir Bikrom is the third highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. Like the other gallantry awards, this was introduced immediately after the Bangladeshi Liberation War. Bir Bikrom was awarded to 175 fighters.
Bir Protik is the fourth highest gallantry award in Bangladesh.
Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War were decorations bestowed by the major warring parties for actions during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan all issued awards and decorations related to the conflict.
Ekushey Padak is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contributions in a number of fields, including culture, education, and economics. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs administers the award.
Hemayet Bahini was a guerrilla militia force of Bangladesh in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. This small force was known by the name of its leader and organizer Mohammad Hemayet Uddin Bir Bikrom.
The Independence Award, formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak, is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens or organizations in recognition of substantial contributions to one of many fields, including the War of Liberation, the Language Movement, education, literature, journalism, public service, science and technology, medical science, social science, song, games and sports, fine arts, rural development, and other areas.
Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, Bir Bikram, SBP, BSP, OSP, ndc, psc is a retired lieutenant general of Bangladesh Army and former commandant of National Defence College. He previously served as GOC of Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC).
The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party is a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for the preservation of internal security and law enforcement in Bangladesh. It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the government of Bangladesh. It has 6 million active and reserved members. It is the largest paramilitary force in the world.
The Bangladesh Armed Forces award medals and their associated ribbon bars in recognition of various levels of service, personal accomplishments and commemorative events while a regular serviceperson is a member of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Air Force. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a serviceperson's career.
G. M. Mushfiqur Rahman Bir Uttom (1966–1989) was a lieutenant in the Bangladesh Army. Rahman was one of two military officers who were awarded Bir Uttom, the other being Brigadier Jamil Uddin Ahmed who died while trying to prevent the assassination of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after the end of Bangladesh Liberation War.
Md. Badiuzzaman Tunu was a freedom fighter with the title of Bir Pratik of Rajshahi District of Bangladesh.
Quazi Sazzad Ali Zahir is a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War. The Bangladesh government awarded him the Bir Protik gallantary award for his bravery in the war. He was conferred with the Independence Award, Bangladesh's highest civilian in 2013 and India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri on November 9, 2021.
Mizanur Rahman Shamim is a Lieutenant General in the Bangladesh Army and incumbent Chief of General Staff (CGS) at army headquarters. Prior to join CGS, he was the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the, Armed Forces Division. He had served as General Officer commanding (GOC) of the 9th Infantry Division and Area Commander of the Savar Area.
Dewan Mahbubur Rob Sadi Chaudhuri was a Bengali politician. He was a 1971 Liberation War veteran and war hero who led the Jalalpur sub-sector as sub-sector commander of the Mukti Bahini under Sector Commander Maj Gen C. R. Datta. Sadi was awarded Bir Protik on 15 December 1973 for demonstration of personal acts of valor during the war. He was elected a member of parliament in 1979. Besides being a freedom fighter and politician, Sadi was also a singer, poet, columnist and songwriter. He was an active columnist for the Manab Zamin and his articles and letters appeared in various national and international newspapers and magazines like The Economist, The Daily Star, The Daily Ittefaq and Prothom Alo. Sadi served as the executive director of Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd, and later founded a socio-political organization named Centre for Democratic Practice, dedicated towards fostering democracy and national consciousness and consensus in Bangladesh.
Lubna Marium is a Bangladeshi dancer, art director, researcher and cultural activist.
Mohammad Ziauddin, BU is a retired Bangladeshi military officer, who was the Commanding Officer of the 1st East Bengal Regiment during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was awarded the Bir Uttom, the country's second highest gallantry award for his outstanding bravery in the Liberation War. His certificate number was 22.
Shawkat Ali was a fighter in the Bangladesh Liberation War and a former officer of the Bangladesh Army. For his immense bravery during the war, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the title of Bir Protik. He served as the sub-sector commander of Sector 1.