The Bangla Academy Literary Awards, which aim to affirm, connect, and energise the world of reading by showcasing the authors and illustrators, are facing a crisis of confidence. Murmurs of discontent have been growing about the way the selection is made. This situation escalated when writer Zakir Talukder made the dramatic decision to return his Bangla Academy Literary Award, received about a decade ago, citing concerns about the award’s legitimacy. Speaking of his bold move that has ignited fresh debates about the credentials of the award, he said: “People have lost their faith in the Bangla Academy’s method of handing out …