Syed Muazzem and Enamul Haque named for India's prestigious awards
Apart from the "Padma Bhushan", seven eminent personalities were named for the "Padma Vibhushan Award-2020" and 118 people were named for the "Padma Shri Award-2020"
Two Bangladeshi prominent personalities have been nominated for India's Padma Bhushan Award - Former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali and noted historian and archeologist Enamul Haque.
Ali was today nominated for "Padma Bhushan Award-2020" (posthumously) for his distinguished service of high order in the field of public affairs. He is among the 16 distinguished personalities, who have been nominated for the award by the government of India, an official handout said here tonight.
Haque was nominated for the Padma Shri for his contributions in developing the arts and museum sector of Bangladesh. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2014 and Independence Day Award in 2017 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Haque completed his bachelor's in history and master's in archaeological history from the University of Dhaka. He later earned his PhD on South Asian Art from the University of Oxford. He got his post-graduate Diploma-in-Museology from London.
Haque joined Bangladesh National Museum in 1962. In 1965, he became the principal, the director in 1969 and director-general during 1983-1991.
He was also elected as the President of the International Council of Museums Asia-Pacific Organization for the period 1983-86. He served as the professor of national culture and heritage in the Independent University, Bangladesh and the president, chairman and academic director of the International Centre for Study of Bengal Art.
The names of the awardees are announced on the occasion of India's Republic Day every year and these awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March or April every year.
Apart from the "Padma Bhushan", seven eminent personalities were named for the "Padma Vibhushan Award-2020" and 118 people were named for the "Padma Shri Award-2020" for their exceptional and distinguished service in various fields of activities.
Thirty three of the awardees are women and the list also includes 18 persons from the category of foreigners and 12 posthumous awardees, the handout said.
The seven eminent persons, who were named for the "Padma Vibhushan Award-2020" are- George Fernandes (posthumous), Arun Jaitley (Posthumous), M.C. Mary Kom, Chhannulal Mishra, Sushma Swaraj (posthumous), Vishveshateertha Swamiji Sri and Pejavara Adhokhaja Matha Udupi (Posthumous).
Syed Muazzem Ali, a career diplomat and also a freedom fighter, passed away on December 30 in Dhaka after successfully completion of his tenure of five years as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India.
The former foreign secretary Syed Muazzem Ali is regarded as the distinguished diplomat.