Pakistani prominent journalist Hamid Mir has announced to return the award bestowed on his late father for his contributions during the Liberation War by the Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina government in 2013.

Hamid Mir claimed the award was actually a ‘deception’ by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, who he blamed for straining ties with Pakistan.

Hamid Mir made the announcement during his show Geo News programme 'Capital Talks' on Thursday.

In 2013, Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh government honoured 69 foreign nationals for raising their voice against the 1971 East Pakistan operation.

Hamid Mir's father Waris Mir and 12 other Pakistanis were among them.

Hamid Mir said, ‘Instead of improving relations, as promised to us, she has deteriorated them further. With these awards she has deceived us.’

He also said, ‘The awards given to the Pakistanis, who because of their own conviction opposed the 1971 military operation, now seem like symbols of deceit.’

‘I am left with no choice but to say that I think, along with kind regards, we should all return these symbols of deceit (the awards) back to (PM) Hasina. I, for one, will definitely be doing so.’

Hamid Mir reminisced shared history between the two countries; adding that he had travelled to Dhaka – where All India Muslim League first began – to accept the accolade on behalf of his father, assuming she wanted improved relations.

He expressed disappointment on the PM further worsening ties between the two countries instead of aiding improvement. He further added that an example of PM Sheikh Hasina going back on her words is the country’s refusal to send the Bangladesh cricket team to Pakistan again.

“She wants ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh to end entirely”, claimed Hamid Mir.

Earlier this week, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called off their cricket tour of Bangladesh scheduled for July and August. PCB chairman Shehryar Khan said that Bangladesh had failed to reciprocate Pakistan’s visits with their cricket board turning down an invitation to play two T20 internationals in Pakistan.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred ‘Foreign Friends of Bangladesh Award’ on five selected Pakistanis at a ceremony in Dhaka in 2013.

The recipients of awards from Pakistan were mainly those whose fathers had opposed Army action in then East Pakistan. Those who were given away gold-plated silver metallic plaques, bearing replica of the National Memorial of Bangladesh and a citation on silk cloth, include Saleema Hashmi, the daughter of renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz; Asma Jahangir, the daughter of Malik Ghulam Jilani; Hamid Mir, the son of Professor Waris Mir; Hasil Bux Bizenjo, the son of Ghaus Bux Bizenjo and the daughter of Habib Jalib.