ED: Recognizing the contributions that will take us into the future

We congratulate the recipients of the Swadhinata Padak, the highest civilian award granted by the Bangladesh government, and their invaluable contributions to this nation and its future.

This award was given to nine individuals and one organization for their outstanding contributions to the nation, and they were: AKM Bazlur Rahman, Shaheed Ahsanullah Master, Brig Gen (retd) Khurshid Ahmed, and Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu for their contributions to independence and the Liberation War; Dr Mrinmoy Guha Neogi for science and technology; Mohadev Saha for literature; Ataur Rahman and Gazi Mazharul Anwar for culture; Dr M Amjad Hossain for social work; and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council for research and training.

Each of these categories covers a crucial aspect of our current existence as a nation, and in order for us to achieve sustainable progress and bring about significant changes in the lives of the people of this country, we must continue to recognize the voices and contributions of the people in their respective fields and encourage future generations to do the same.

We are currently living in times which are unlike any humanity has seen before, not only due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but due to the various ways technology, globalization, and industry have changed the very essence of what it means to be human.

With that has come newer problems which we must overcome in order to ensure our continued progress in the future -- and this will only come with the advent of innovative thoughts and ideas which lead to innovative technologies.

This is why it is crucial that we not only remember the contributions in our history, but also the ones who are essential for the future -- we must continue to invest in technology and research so that the people of this nation are provided with the opportunity to innovate, and make the lives of their fellow citizens even better.