The government has decided to confer the Independence Award 2022 on the Power Division for its outstanding performance in ensuring cent percent electricity coverage across the country in “Mujib Borsho”.
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.
The government, on March 18, published a revised list of this year’s Independence Award winners – nine individuals and one organization.
With the latest addition, the Power Division will be the 11th entity winning this year’s Independence Award.
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.
The government had to publish the revise list following controversies regarding the inclusion of little-known author Amir Hamza, who had been chosen for his books on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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.
Also Read - Revised list of Independence Award recipients sans Amir Hamza released
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.
Amir Hamza died in 2019 due to old-age complications.
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.
