Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir has announced his decision to return the award conferred on his late father by Bangladesh for his contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.

Mir’s father, Waris Mir, was awarded by Bangladesh for raising his voice against military atrocities in the then East Pakistan. He had penned a series of reports in Urdu newspaper Jung on atrocities carried out by Pakistani Army on the night of March 25, 1971. Announcing the surprise decision on Friday, Mr. Mir claimed that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was “bent on deteriorating relations with Pakistan”. He also went on the say that the award was a “deception” on the part of Ms. Hasina’s government.

Among those chosen for the “Foreign Friends of Bangladesh Award” in 2013 were 13 Pakistanis, including Mr. Mir’s father. Mr. Hamid’s announcement came as a surprise as he was among those who have been calling on Islamabad to offer an apology to Dhaka for the atrocities committed in 1971.

Bangladesh’s relations with Pakistan have been deteriorating as war crimes trials progressed. They worsened last year as Islamabad broke diplomatic protocal and condemned the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.