Names will be dropped from the award list if the listed nominees are found to be involved in anti-people politics, Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam said on Sunday.
“A Bangla Academy reform commission will be formed to inquire whether any award nominee is involved in anti-people politics,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the auditorium of the Cultural Affairs Ministry at the Secretariat.
Azam made the statement one day after the suspension of the recipients’ list for the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2024.
“We will review the list and if anyone is found involved in killing, anti-people politics, or any criminal activities, his/her name will be removed from the list,” said the DG.
The verification process will be carried out in coordination with intelligence agencies, he said.
Earlier on Saturday, the government suspended the list of recipients for the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2024, which was announced two days ago to honour ten individuals for their contributions to Bangla literature.
