Govt Drops Amir Hamza from Independence Award List

The government has dropped the name of Amir Hamza from the list of winners of the Independence Award amid much public criticism of his controversial past, reports media.  

Excluding the name, the Cabinet division released a new list on Friday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the government announced the names of 10 individuals and one institution for this year's Independence Award.

Six recipients of the award -- Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury, Col Khandoker Nazmul Huda (posthumous), Abdul Jalil, Siraj Uddin Ahmed, Md Sohiuddin Biswas (posthumous), Sirajul Haque (posthumous) -- have been named for their contributions to the 1971 Liberation War.

While Prof Dr Konok Kanti Borua and Prof Dr Md Kamrul Islam will be awarded for their contributions in the medicine sector; Md Amir Hamza for literature; and Mainul Hossain for architecture.

Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute will receive an award in the research and training category.