The government has suspended the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2024 just two days after announcing the names of 10 recipients for their contributions to Bangla literature.

The decision follows widespread criticism and allegations of favouritism regarding the selection process.

Since the announcement of the awardees, social media has been abuzz with both praise and criticism. Many have raised concerns about the exclusion of women from this year’s list, while others have questioned the roles of certain nominees during the tenure of the previous government.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki broke the news in a Facebook post, stating, “The announced list of names for the Bangla Academy Award has been suspended.”

Highlighting the need for systemic reforms within Bangla Academy, Farooki wrote, “The flawed policies enabling questionable and clique-driven awards require urgent review. Our primary task is to reassess them. We must also examine how Bangla Academy operates and the policies guiding it. As the country undergoes reforms, why not Bangla Academy?”

Bangla Academy later confirmed the suspension on its official website.

On Thursday, Bangla Academy announced the names of 10 individuals selected for the awards. The recipients included Masud Khan for poetry, Selim Morshed for fiction, Shubhashish Sinha for drama and playwriting, Salimullah Khan for essays or prose, Faruk Nawaz for children’s literature, GH Habib for translation, Mohammad Shahjahan Mia for research, Rezaur Rahman for science, Mohammad Hanan for the Liberation War and Syed Jamil Ahmed for folklore.