Badruddin Umar declines Independence Award, citing longstanding stance

Noted writer and intellectual Badruddin Umar has declined the Independence Award, hours after the government named him among eight recipients for 2025. 

"I am thankful to the government for considering me, but I can't accept it," he said in a statement issued by Faiezul Hakim, general secretary of Jatiya Mukti Council, which Umar heads. 

He cited his longstanding position since 1973 of refusing all government and private awards as the reason for declining the award.

The Independence Award is Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor, given annually for significant contributions in various fields.