Dhaka, March 5 -- Zafrullah Chowdhury has been named for the 2026 Independence Award, marking a rare instance where a recipient has been chosen for the highest civilian honour for a second time.

In a media statement issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday, the late founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra was named for a posthumous award in the social service and public service category.

Official records, however, showed that he was among the first 10 individuals to receive the Independence Award in 1977, the year of its inception, for his contributions to population control.

The Independence Award is the highest civilian state honour in Bangladesh, typically granted only once to an individual or institution for outstanding national contribu...