Dhaka: Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam announced that nominees for the prestigious Bangla Academy Literary Award will be dropped if found involved in mass killings or anti-people politics. This statement was made during a press briefing at the Cultural Affairs Ministry’s auditorium, highlighting the academy’s commitment to ensuring that awardees uphold ethical and moral standards.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Director General revealed that the list of nominees for the Bangla Academy Literary Award is currently under review. The scrutiny follows widespread social media criticism about certain individuals on the list, prompting the academy to suspend the nominees’ list temporarily. Professor Azam confirmed that if any nominee is proven to have been directly involved in genocide or anti-public conduct, their award will be revoked. The final decision on the nominees will be made within three working days.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was also present at the press conference, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of the award. The suspension of the recipients’ list came just one day after the government halted the announcement of the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2024, which initially aimed to honor ten individuals for their contributions to Bangla literature.
In response to inquiries about the oversight, Professor Azam admitted to mistakes in the award-giving process, citing historical pressures and practices within the academy. He acknowledged the need for reform and announced plans to form a committee to address the issues, ensuring a fair and transparent award selection process in the future.