Debate on Zafrullah leads to Independence Award rule change

The Bangladesh government has changed the rules regarding the Independence Awards after debate surrounding Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury receiving the honour for a second time.

The new rules provide for the same person or institution to receive the award in cases of special contributions after at least 25 years have passed.

An order from the Cabinet Division on Sunday amended Article 7.11 of the Independence Awards guidelines to add the provision.

The amended article states, "No person/institution who has received the Independence Award will be considered for the Independence Award or any other national-level award again. However, if a person or institution makes special contributions in any other field after receiving this award, that person or institution can be given the Independence Awards again after at least 25 years."

The order signed by Cabinet Division Joint Secretary Md Firoz Ahmed said it has been issued “with the approval of the appropriate authorities” and will take effect immediately.

The issue became a topic of discussion after Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah was included in this year’s list of awardees for the nation’s highest civilian honour.

According to the list of Independence Award recipients published on the website of the Cabinet Division, Zafrullah received the award in the first year of the introduction of the Swadhinata Award in 1977 for his contributions to population control.

This year, he was nominated for the award posthumously for his contribution to social service and public service. This sparked discussion of whether the same person can receive the Independence Award twice.

Now the government has amended the guidelines, allowing the opportunity for the honour to be bestowed again to the same person or institution after 25 years on the basis of special contributions in another field.