Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday handed over the Independence Award 2017, the highest State award, to Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and 15 noted personalities in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.The PM handed over a certificate, an 18-carat gold medal weighing 50 gram, and a Tk 3 lakh cheque to each of the recipients and their representatives at a function at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium. The awardees are Group Captain (retd) Shamsul Alam Bir Uttam, Ashraful Alam, Shaheed Md Nazmul Huq (posthumous), Syed Mohsin Ali (posthumous), NM Nazmul Ahsan (posthumous), Shaheed Faizur Rahman Ahmed (posthumous) and Bangladesh Air Force (independence and Liberation War).Prof AHM Touhidul Anowar Chawdhury (medical science), Begum Rabeya Khatun and late Golam Samdani Koraishi (literature, posthumous), Prof Dr Enamul Huq and Ostad Bazlur Rahman Badal (culture), Khalil Kazi OBE (social service), Shamsuzzaman Khan and late Prof Lalit Mohan Nath (research and training, posthumous) and Prof Mohammad Asaduzzaman (public administration).Ministers, state ministers, advisers to the PM, members of parliament, diplomats, high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.