The government is considering eight individuals for the Swadhinata Padak 2025 (Independence Award), the highest civilian honour, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the country.

The Cabinet Division will soon announce the official list, a senior government source told The Daily Star yesterday.

The individuals under consideration include the eminent scientist professor Jamal Nazrul Islam; BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed; researcher, writer, and intellectual Badruddin Umar; poet Al Mahmud; pop legend Azam Khan; renowned sculptor Novera Ahmed, who is one of the key designers of the Central Shaheed Minar; and Abrar Fahad, a Buet student tortured to death by members of the now-banned Chhatra League in 2019.

Among them, only Badruddin Umar is alive.

Cabinet Division sources say the list of nominees has been approved by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, and the official announcement will be made soon.

However, hours after the news broke that Badruddin Umar was among the awardees, he declined the award.

"Since 1973, I have been offered awards from various government and non-government organisations. However, I have never accepted any of them," Umar's party, Jatiya Mukti Council, quoted him in statement.

"However, it is not possible for me to accept this award either. Through this press statement, I am making my decision clear," he stated.

He acknowledged the government's decision to confer the Swadhinata Padak on him and expressed his gratitude for the recognition.