The government has published a revised list of this year’s Independence Award winners, dropping the name of Amir Hamza, who was chosen for his contribution to literature.
The Cabinet Division on Friday issued the revised list of nine individuals and one organization for the award.
On Tuesday, a Cabinet Division notification included Amid Hamza among ten individuals chosen for the Independence Award and it stirred a debate.
Hamza is hardly a known figure in the field of country’s literature and does not have any notable literary work either.
Born in Sripur Upazila of Magura in 1931, Amir Hamza was known locally as a folk singer. He took part in the 1971 Liberation War as a member of "Akbar Bahini" under Sector 8.
According to media reports, Amir Hamza’s son Deputy Secretary Mohammad Asaduzzaman said that they applied to the award committee as per the law and that his father’s name was recommended by a senior secretary.
Amir Hamza was the key accused in a murder case filed in 1978 and was sentenced to life-term imprisonment. He, however, was released under political consideration in 1991 after serving nine years in jail.
According to the case, Amir Hamza struck a harpoon on the chest of one Shahadat Hossain of the same area while his brother stabbed the man with a knife to ensure his death over previous enmity.
Amir Hamza died in 2019 due to old-age complcations.
Three of his books – “Bagher Thaba”, “Prithibir Manchitre Ekti Mujib Tumi”, Ekusher Panchali” – were published between 2018 and 2021.
In 2020, SM Rois Uddin, a retired government official, was on the list of the winners of the Independence Award, also drawing criticism from different quarters. Rois was not much known in contemporary literature either.
Later, the authorities dropped his name from the list. The recommendation for the inclusion of his name in the list reportedly came from the Land Ministry.
This year, Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury, Colonel Khandaker Nazmul Huda (posthumous), Abdul Jalil, Siraj Uddin Ahmed, Mohammad Sahiudiin Biswas (posthumous) and Sirazul Haque (posthumous) have been named for their contributions to independence and the Liberation War.
Prof Kanak Kanti Barua and Prof Md Kamrul Islam will receive the award for their contributions to medicine while Syed Mainul Hossain (posthumous) for his contribution to architecture.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) has been selected for the award in the research and training category.
Swadhinata Padak or Independence Award is the highest civilian award in Bangladesh. It is conferred on individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the country.
Historian Muntassir Mamoon questioned the selection process of the award and demanded a change in the system for the selection process of the most prestigious award in the country.
“Candidates for the award are selected mostly by bureaucrats. This kind of situation arises as experts in different fields are not included in the selection panel,” he told a newspaper last week.
