Award-winning writer and essayist Salimullah Khan questioned the etiquette of Bangla Academy.
He made the comment during a seminar titled "Freedom, Equality, and Harmony: Poetry of Bangladesh", held at Hakim Chattar, near the Central Library of Dhaka University, on Sunday, marking the closing day of the National Poetry Festival.
The Bangla Academy Literary Award 2024 was presented during the inaugural ceremony of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Saturday.
However, the event drew criticism on social media after photos surfaced showing awardees standing behind seated guests.
Salimullah said: "If Bangla Academy does not know how to respect people, should we rebel against them? If they lack etiquette, what can we do?"
He further addressed the controversy, saying: "People are asking why I accepted the award. But why insult me right after receiving it? Many are trolling the Bangla Academy’s award ceremony, questioning why the recipients were made to stand behind students who were seated in front. I say, they were sitting as a symbol of power. Slavery must end here as well. To achieve equality, we must all stand together. If we are not equal, we will never be one."
