Sajjad Sharif, a jury member of the Bangla Academy Literary Award, resigned citing moral reasons after the institution’s integrity was compromised. Earlier, another jury member, Morshed Shafiul Hasan, stepped down. The controversy began when cultural adviser Mustafa Sarwar Faruqi criticized the absence of female writers in the award list, leading to the suspension of the awards. A new list of awardees was announced on January 29, and the awards will be presented on February 1 at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.