Govt To Introduce 'Bangabandhu Peace Medal'

The government had decided to introduce peace medal after the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Peace Medal will be conferred to local and international individuals and institutions for contributions to establishing peace.

The medal will be given in every two years. One individual or institution will get the medal each time. The cabinet on Monday approved the draft of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medal Policy, 2024 in this regard.

As per the policy, the prize winner will receive one lakh US dollar, a certificate along with a medal made of 18-carat gold and weights approximately 50 grams. The draft policy was approved in a cabinet meeting held at Prime Minister's Office.

 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

Later, Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain briefed a press conference at the Secretariat in the afternoon. He hoped that the activities to confer the medal will begin this year and it will be given from the next year.

As per the policy, nominated person or institution's name for the prize will be announced on March 17 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation and National Children's Day.

The prize will be given on May 23 or convenient time as Bangabandhu was awarded with the prestigious Joliot-Curie Medal of Peace by the World Peace Council on May 23, 1973.

The cabinet secretary said works to award the prize will begin now with the policy but the cabinet gave directives to frame a law to this end later.

The cabinet asked to keep a provision in the law for setting up a fund where the government or anybody else apart from the government can donate, he said.

Later, cost of awarding the prize will be met from the donation money, he said. But the government will bear the cost until fund is raised, he added._BSS