The interim government has reinstated the Independence Award of former President Ziaur Rahman (posthumous) declared in 2003 and picked seven individuals for this year's Independence Award, the highest civilian award, for their outstanding contributions to the country, report agencies.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.
The then government had revoked the Independence Award of Ziaur Rahman given in 2003 following a Supreme Court order in 2016.
As there is no directive on the cancellation of the Independence Award given to Ziaur Rahman, the interim government revoked the decision of the previous government considering his outstanding contributions to the Liberation War.
This year's Independence award recipients are Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam (posthumous), Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud (posthumous), Sculptor Novera Ahmed (posthumous), Abrar Fahad (posthumous), Badruddin Mohammad Umar, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and Mohammad Mahbubul Haque Khan alias Azam Khan (posthumous).
The Cabinet Division announced the nominees in a notification on Tuesday, naming six of the seven for posthumous accolades.
Writer and intellectual Badruddin Umar is the only nominee alive but he said it was "impossible" for him to accept the award in the Education and Research category.
Meanwhile, the Press Secretary of the Chief Advisor posted on his Facebook page that war hero General MAG Osmani, the Commander in Chief of the Bangladesh Mukti Bahini, was honoured with the Independence Award in 1985.
The Interim Government initially discussed the possibility of posthumously awarding him the Independence Award again this year. However, due to the lack of precedence for any Bangladeshi receiving the highest award of the country more than once, the idea was ultimately dropped, he added.
Abrar, the BUET student who was tortured to death by Chhatra League activists, will be given the prestigious award under a new category -- "Protesting Youth".
The Independence Award is the country's highest civilian honour, which has been awarded annually by the government since 1977 on the occasion of Independence Day on Mar 26.
Award recipients receive Tk 300,000, an 18-karat gold medal weighing 50 gm, a replica of the medal, and a certificate.
On Mar 6, Badruddin announced his decision to reject the award.
In a statement sent by Jatiya Mukti Council General Secretary Faiezul Hakim, Badruddin explained that he has been nominated for awards by different government and non-government organisations since 1973, but has never accepted any of them. Badruddin expressed gratitude to the current interim government for considering him for the award but reiterated that he would not accept it.
When Tuesday's notification was brought to his attention, Faiezul said: "Badruddin's previous decision remains. He'll not accept the award."
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