Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will handover Banga Bibhushan and Banga Bhushan awards to eminent persons from different walks of life at a function in Nazrul Mancha on Saturday.
Renowned personalities who will be receiving the award include Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Dr Abhijit Chowdhury, Dr Dhiman Gangopadhyay and Arun Prasad Mukhopadhyay.
Rezwana Choudhury Bannya is an eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent who had received training in music in Santiniketan under the guidance of Kanika Bandyopadhyay and Suchitra Mitra. She has played a leading role in making Rabindra Sangeet extremely popular in Bangladesh. Her admirers include the Chief Minister herself and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. Her concerts in different countries of Europe have attracted thousands of music lovers. She is a trendsetter in Rabindra Sangeet both in Bengal and Bangladesh.
Dr Abhijit Chowdhury, who will also be receiving the award on Saturday, is a renowned physician and took a leading role in liver transplantation in the state as well as in eastern India. While in SSKM Hospital he had founded liver foundation where common people could get treatment for liver ailment. He is one of the members of the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences at Sonarpur which was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday.
Eminent chest physician Dr Dhiman Gangopadhyay has been associated with Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan for several years. His leading role in treating the poor suffering from bronchitis and other chest-related problems is well-known.
Arun Prasad Mukhopadhyay, former Director General of Police, is well-known for his academic pursuit and he will also be receiving the award. He is the author of several books including those on the Naxal movement. Mukhopadhyay used to take classes to combat Maoist activities in Police Academy in Hyderabad. He was the Superintendent of Police during the Naxalbari movement in late 1960s. His son Sanjay Mukhopadhyay is Additional Director General (Security). His elder son Amitabha Mukhopadhyay is an IAS officer and is now serving the World Bank.
There will also be a cultural programme for around half-an-hour before the award ceremony. Performers of Chaau, Natua and Dhol will be performing in the programme. The half-an-hour-long cultural function will be like the one that had been staged during the inaugural ceremony of the Bengal Global Business Summit held in January 2017.
On Saturday, tableaus will be flagged off from Nabanna to mark completion of the sixth year of Mamata Banerjee government. At the same time tableaus will also be flagged of in districts too.