At the Ekushey Padak 2026 ceremony held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, journalist Shafik Rehman surprised everyone by presenting a red rose to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman while receiving his award. He pulled the flower from his pocket and handed it to the Prime Minister on stage, creating a memorable moment.
The Prime Minister awarded the Ekushey Padak 2026 to Farida Akhter Bobita for acting, Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Sattar for fine arts, Marina Tabassum for architecture, Ayub Bachchu (posthumously) for music, Arthi Ahmed for dance, Islam Uddin Palakar for pala gaan, Shafik Rehman for journalism, Professor Dr. Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for education, and Tejas Halder Jash for sculpture. The popular band Warfaze was also recognized for its contribution to music.
Ekushey Padak, introduced in 1976, is Bangladesh’s second-highest civilian honor, awarded for exceptional achievements in language, literature, culture, research, journalism, education, and social service.
