Dhaka, May 25 (UNB) - Eighteen renowned personalities including Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku have been awarded Kobi Nazrul Award-2010 for their contribution to the nation.

Bangladesh Sahitya Sanskritik Parishad and Research Council of the History of Liberation War and Independence jointly gave the award on the occasion of the 111th birth anniversary of National poet Kazi Nazurl Islam at Shilpakala Academy.

The other awardees are Principal Sobeda Khatun Parul MP, secretary to the Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry Shafiq Alam Mehedi, Dhaka University VC Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, director general of Shilpakala Academy Kamal Lohani, director general of the secondary and higher
secondary education directorate Md Noman-ur-Rasid, chairman of Rajshahi Barendra Authority Nurul Islam Tandu, REB chairman Bhuyain Shafiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Iqbal Soban Chowdhury, Pervin Sikdar, Prof Khalid Hossain, Khairul Anam Shakil, Prof Dr Nashid Kamal, Ismat Nur, Wing Commander (retd) AKM Golam Mustofa, Prof Abul Kalam Azad Patuwary, and the general secretary of Nazrul Academy Mintu Rahman.