Bangla Academy's award selection process 'full of irregularities': Cultural Adviser

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said there were irregularities in Bangla Academy's literary award selection process.

He also announced plans to reform the Bangla Academy comprehensively. 

Farooki made the statement at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday. 

The adviser said: "There were irregularities in Bangla Academy's award selection process. The institution was turned into a hub for people with specific ideologies and groups, leaving no room for new ideas." 

During the briefing, Bangla Academy Director General Professor Dr Mohammad Azam said if any individual is found involved in anti-people politics or killing during the mass uprising, or involved in any kind of criminal offence, the individual would be excluded from the list of awards.

The Director General said, "We didn't intend to make any error in the selection process, but we have made errors. We have tried to maintain the entire process. Because of it, we have suspended the list for three working days. We have taken into account the complains against some individuals in the list of award recipients. We have raised the list at the review committee. The committee will give its decision after reviewing it."

He said December, January and February are very busy schedules for Bangla Academy. "We have planned to form a Bangla Academy reform committee where the experienced individuals will make suggestions on how to reform the Bangla Academy."

Addressing the recent controversy over the Bangla Academy awards, the DG said: "After the award announcements, there was significant discussion from various quarters.

The list of recipients of Bangla Academy Literary Award was announced on Thursday. Then the list was postponed in a notice signed by the director general Professor Mohammad Azam.