The existing Bangladeshi honours system was created after Independence of

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

. The most recognized civil awards are

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") 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 contribut ...

and

Independence Day Award The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by t ...

. 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 Wars of national liberation or national liberation revolutions are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) to establish separat ...

. Awards were also bestowed posthumously and they are not given for foreign citizens. The most recognized and respected gallantry awards are the Bir ( bn, বীর) awards which are

Bir Sreshtho The Bir Sreshtho ( bn, বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ; ), 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. The other ...

Bir Uttom Bir Uttom ( bn, বীর উত্তম, lit=Great Valiant Hero) is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho and the highest gallantry award for a living individual. Since the independence of Bang ...

Bir Bikrom Bir Bikrom ( bn, বীর বিক্রম, lit=Valiant hero, translit=) 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 ...

and

Bir Protik Bir Protik ( bn, বীর প্রতীক ''Bīr Pratīk'', "Symbol of Bravery or Idol of Courage") is the fourth highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. Recipients This award was declared on 15 December 1973. A total of 426 people have rece ...

in decreasing order of importance. They are awarded to freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and fought against the

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

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.

Civil decorations

General awards

Independence Day Award Ribbon (Bangladesh)

; the highest civilian award * Ekushey Padak Ribbon

; the second-highest civilian award

Literature awards

Bangla Academy Award The Bangla Academy Literary Award ( bn, বাংলা একাডেমি সাহিত্য পুরস্কার; ''Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar''), is given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius i ...

, for contribution in the field of

Bengali language Bengali ( ), generally known by its endonym Bangla (, ), is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Bengal region of South Asia. It is the official, national, and most widely spoken language of Bangladesh and the second m ...

and

literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

. * Shishu Academy Award, for contribution in the field of

juvenile literature Juvenile may refer to: *Juvenile status, or minor (law), prior to adulthood * Juvenile (organism) *Juvenile (rapper) (born 1975), American rapper * ''Juvenile'' (2000 film), Japanese film * ''Juvenile'' (2017 film) *Juvenile (greyhounds), a greyh ...

Particular awards

National Professor National Professor ( bn, জাতীয় অধ্যাপক) is a prestigious teaching award given by the Government of Bangladesh for outstanding contribution on the field of education. It is awarded by the president of Bangladesh according ...

; for outstanding contribution on the field of

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

. *

Shilpakala Padak Shilpakala Padak is an award instituted by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) to recognize ten established artists for their contributions to the fields of Bangladeshi arts, theater, music, dance, instrumental music, folk music and film and other ...

; for contributions to the fields of Bangladeshi arts, theater, music, dance, instrumental music, folk music and film. *

Begum Rokeya Padak Begum Rokeya Padak, named after Begum Rokeya, is a Bangladeshi national honour conferred on individual women for their exceptional achievement. The award is given by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. The ...

; for contribution to

Gender equality Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing d ...

and

Women's rights Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, ...

. *

National Agriculture Awards The Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award is a Bangladeshi award given to recognise a substantial contribution in the field of research in agricultural development. The medal is categorised into gold, silver and bronze medals. This award was sta ...

; given to recognise a substantial contribution in the field of research in

agricultural development Agricultural expansion describes the growth of agricultural land (arable land, pastures, etc.) especially in the 20th and 21st centuries. The agricultural expansion is often explained as a direct consequence of the global increase in food and ene ...

. *

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

; for notable contributions to the promotion of the art of

cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking ...

. *

National Sports Awards The National Sports Awards is the collective name given to the six sports awards of the Republic of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. They are presented by the President of India in the same ceremony at th ...

; for specific contributions in the field of games and sports. * National Family Planning Awards *

National Child Award The National Child Award is the most notable among the activities of Bangladesh Shishu Academy. This contest has been held since 1978. Competition was held in two groups of 62 topics in literature, culture and sports. In the upazila level, the fi ...

* National Youth Awards * National Cooperative Award * President's Award for Industrial Development * National Environment Award * Public Administration Award

Military decorations

The following are the various gallantry, service and war medals of the

Bangladesh Armed Forces The Bangladesh Armed Forces ( bn, বাংলাদেশ সশস্ত্র বাহিনী, Bangladesh Sashastra Bahinī) are the Armed forces, combined military forces of the Bangladesh, People's Republic of Bangladesh. It consists ...

Wartime gallantry awards

-( bn, বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ; literally, "The Most Valiant Hero"), the highest gallantry award *

- ( bn, বীর উত্তম; literally, "Better among Braves"), the second highest gallantry award *

- ( bn, বীর বিক্রম; literally, "Valiant hero"), the third highest gallantry award *

- ( bn, বীর প্রতীক; literally, "Symbol of Bravery or Idol of Courage"), the fourth highest gallantry award

Peacetime gallantry awards

Bir Sorbottam-( bn, বীর সর্বোত্তম; literally, "The Foremost Braves"), the highest gallantry award * Noribbon

Bir Mrittunjoee- ( bn, বীর মৃত্যুঞ্জয়ী; literally, "The Immortal Braves"), the second highest gallantry award * Noribbon

Bir Chiranjib- ( bn, বীর চিরঞ্জীব; literally, " The Incorruptible Braves"), the third highest gallantry award * Noribbon

Bir Durjoy- ( bn, বীর দুর্জয়; literally, "The Indomitable Braves"), the fourth highest gallantry award

Army service medals

Army Medal সেনাবাহিনী পদক (PSB) * Extraordiary Service Medal

Extraordinary Service Medal * Distinguished Service Medal new

Distinguished Service Medal *

Army Medal of Glory সেনা গৌরব পদক (SGP) * Army Medal of Excellence Bar

Army Medal of Excellence সেনা উৎকর্ষ পদক (SUP) * Army Efficiency Medal Bar

Army Efficiency Medal সেনা পারদর্শিতা পদক (SPP)

Long service awards

* Jestha Padak I (10 years service) *

Jestha Padak II (20 years service) * Jestha Padak III (27 years service)

Special decorations (for non-nationals)

Bangladesh Freedom Honour -( bn, বাংলাদেশ স্বাধীনতা সম্মাননা); the highest award for foreigners or non nationals, * Noribbon

Bangladesh Liberation War Honour -( bn, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ সম্মাননা); the second highest award for foreigners or non nationals * Noribbon

Friends of Liberation War Honour Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War were decorations which were bestowed by the major warring parties during the years of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan all issued awards and decorations during ...

-( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ মৈত্রী সম্মাননা); the third highest award for foreigners or non nationalsB’desh honours foreign friends
VOL 20 NO 339 REGD NO DA 1589; Dhaka, Wednesday 28 March 2012, The Financial Express

Police medals

Police medals are awarded every year in the annual Police Week Parade. They are awarded both for bravery and service. * Bangladesh Police Medal - Service

Bangladesh Police Medal (Bravery) Bangladesh Police Medal (Bravery) Bengali: , is a police medal of Bangladesh. The medal is intended for the awarding the officers of Bangladesh Police and Rapid Action Battalion Rapid Action Battalion or RAB, is an anti-crime and anti-terror ...

Bangladesh Police Medal (Service) *

President Police Medal (Bravery) * President Police Medal - Service

President Police Medal (Service)

Boarder Guard medals

* Border Guard Bangladesh Padak (Bravery) * President Border Guard Padak (Bravery) * Border Guard Bangladesh Padak (Service) * President Border Guard Padak (Service) * Bangladesh Rifles Bi-centennial Padak Ribbon

Bi-Centennial Padak *

Naf Padak

Ansar and VDP medals

* Bangladesh Ansar Medal (Bravery) * Bangladesh Ansar Medal (Service) * President Ansar Medal (Bravery) * President Ansar Medal (Service) * Bangladesh VDP Medal (Bravery) * Bangladesh VDP Medal (Service) * President VDP Medal (Service)

References

External links

* {{Decorations by country Bangladesh and the Commonwealth of Nations