Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today handed over the newly-introduced "Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Award" to five women in recognition of their outstanding contributions to different sectors.

The recipients are freedom fighter from Brahmanbaria Prof Momtaz Begum (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War category; Tangail's Joya Pati (posthumous) in Education, Culture and Sports; Pabna's Nurunnahar Begum in Agriculture and Rural Development; freedom fighter from Cumilla Principal Jobeda Khatun Parul in Politics; and Netrakona's Nadira Jahan (Surma Jahid) in Research.

The award is considered the highest state honour for women in the "Ka" category, according to the Women and Children Affairs Ministry.

The award-giving ceremony was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Organised by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined it as the chief guest virtually.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, on behalf of the Prime Minister, distributed the award among the winners.

The government has introduced the award to recognise five Bangladeshi women in different categories -- politics, economics, education, culture and sports, social services, independence and Liberation War, research, and agriculture and rural development -- every year.

Each awardee received a medal made of gold, a replica of the medal, a cheque for Tk 4 lakh and a certificate of honour.

Begum Fazilatunnessa, PM's mother and wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, embraced martyrdom along with Bangabandhu and other family members in a brutal attack by some army personnel on August 15, 1975.

She was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on August 8, 1930 and strived for an independent Bangladesh alongside Bangabandhu.