Eminent writer and intellectual Badruddin Umar has declined to accept the Independence Award after being nominated for the country's highest civilian honour this year.
He made this statement in a message sent to the media, according to BBC Bangla.
In the statement, he mentioned “Since 1973, I have been awarded from many government and non-government organisations, and I accepted none of those. Now, the interim government announced to give me the Independence Award. I thank them for this, but it is not possible for me to receive this award too. I am informing it through this press statement,” he said.
The Independence Award is the highest state award of the country. This award has been given since 1977 on the occasion of Independence Day on March 26.
Earlier, the government had nominated eight distinguished individuals, including Badruddin Umar, for the Independence Award 2025, in recognition of their exceptional contributions at the national level.