PM Tarique pledges liberal democratic state to promote knowledge, science

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday said the government would work to establish a liberal democratic state system founded on moral standards and dignity, enabling the country to advance in all branches of knowledge and science, including education, literature, the arts, science and technology.
“I believe that politicising education, research, arts and literature is never a sign of a civilised society,” he said.
The prime minister made the remarks while addressing the Ekushey Padak 2026 award distribution ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
He reiterated that the current democratic government is committed to building a liberal democratic state system grounded in ethics and dignity to ensure progress across all intellectual and scientific fields. In this journey, he said, guidance from the country’s distinguished citizens is highly valued.
Although politicians are entrusted with the responsibility of running the state, he noted that learned and eminent individuals play a vital guiding role in society. The greater the number of accomplished individuals in a state, the more enlightened and prosperous that society becomes in terms of moral standards and development, he added.
He said the state honours distinguished individuals out of necessity and from the realisation that their contributions strengthen the nation. From this perspective, the proclaimer of independence, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,
introduced the Ekushey Padak in independent Bangladesh.
The prime minister observed that the Ekushey Padak is not merely a medal; rather, it commemorates the nation’s historic journey from the 1952 Language Movement to the present day. It also introduces the public to eminent personalities who have enriched the state and society through education, literature, arts, research and cultural practice.
He noted that the Ekushey Padak began as a state honour in 1976, initially recognising contributions in three fields. At present, it is awarded in at least 12 categories, including the Language Movement, the Liberation War, education, research, arts, science and technology.
Describing this expansion as a positive development, he expressed hope that the practice of knowledge, science and literature would continue to flourish. The state and government, he said, will fulfil their responsibilities to further accelerate progress in education, research and the arts.
This year, the government conferred the Ekushey Padak on nine individuals and one music band in recognition of their outstanding contributions to various fields.
The recipients are Farida Akhtar Babita (Film); Professor Md Abdus Sattar (Fine Arts); Marina Tabassum (Architecture); Ayub Bachchu (Music, posthumous); Arthy Ahmed (Dance); Islam Uddin Palakar (Palagan); Shafik Rehman (Journalism); Professor Dr Mahbubul Alam Majumdar (Education); Tejosh Haldar Josh (Sculpture); and Warfaze (Music Band).
Referring to International Mother Language Day on 21 February, the Prime Minister said the significance of the month of February in the nation’s history is profound. “21 February is a reminder of our identity. It may be said that it is the lifeblood of our cultural consciousness,” he remarked.
He said the day symbolises both the struggle to establish the dignity of the mother tongue and the broader movement to secure rights against oppression. Therefore, February represents a month of self-realisation and rediscovery of national roots.
Describing 21 February as the eternal spirit and foundational inspiration of the nation’s freedom, he paid deep tribute to the language martyrs and prayed for the acceptance of their martyrdom.
Congratulating the Ekushey Padak 2026 recipients, the prime minister wished them long and healthy lives and expressed hope that Bangla language and literature would one day shine prominently on the global literary stage.