The country’s journalist community has received a big boost to their profession as Bashundhara Group gave awards to 75 journalists through a gala ceremony at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital on Monday (May 30).
Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan inaugurated the function while Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud was present as the chief guest.
Bangladesh Press Council Chairman Justice Nizamul Haque Nassim and Head of Bashundhara Media Award Jury Board Prof Golam Rahman were present as special guests.
Bashundhara Media Award 2021 Organising Committee Chairman and Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir chaired the function.
Bashundhara Group introduced ‘Bashundhara Media Award 2021’, the first of its kind in the country, to encourage journalists to be fearless in speaking out against all kinds of corruption and irregularities.
Eleven journalists were given awards for their in-depth investigative reports under five categories through the gala ceremony.
Besides this, Bashundhara Group honoured some 64 dedicated journalists, each from every district, for their immense contributions to grassroots journalism.
Journalists have been treading on dark routes to uncover crucial facts through innovative investigative methods, braving life threats and other odds in the interest of the country and its people.
The grassroots media persons are also performing their duties, crossing a sea of hurdles and skipping the red eyes of politicians, administration, goons and other wrongdoers.
The awards were given to the journalists, recognising their works so that they can find a boost to fearless journalism. With the participation of veteran and young journalists, the award programme turned into a reunion of newsmakers.
Besides, ministers, MPs, politicians, lawyers, bureaucrats, intellectuals, businessmen, diplomats, celebrities of different sectors and other eminent personalities of different professions graced the event.
The main attractions of the gala ceremony were the journalists who were selected to get the Bashundhara Media Award 2021 for their fearless investigative reports.
Each winner received a check of Tk 250,000, a crest and a certificate.
Eleven winners are: Ishtiaq Ahmed (print), The Daily Star reporter in the Liberation War category, Kawser Soheli (Television), special correspondent of Maasranga Television, Salah Uddin Jasim (online), senior reporter of Jagonews24.com, Shoaib Chowdhury, Habiganj district correspondent of Desh Rupantor (print) in the crime and corruption category, GTV Staff Reporter Jannatul Ferdousi (Television), Jasmine Papri, News Bangla24.com freelance journalist (online), in the Women and Children category, Samakal's senior correspondent Rajib Ahmed (print), Ananda TV Reporter Shawkat Sagar, Dhaka Post' senior correspondent Adnan Rahman (online), and photo journalist of Prothom Alo Dipu Malakar. Each of them received Tk 250,000 in cash, a crest and a certificate.
Inaugurating the gala event, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan called upon journalists to play their due role in a fight against violence, money laundering, corruption and drug abuse.
Urging the journalists to call a spade a spade, he said, “Journalists should not focus on only on negative stories rather they should depict the tales of development, advancement and achievements of the country.”
The Bashundhara Group chairman also announced that they will give award to 25 journalists of the country next year and every winner will get Tk 10 lakh.
While addressing the programme as the chief guest, Dr Hasan Mahmud highly praised the Bashundhara Group for the great initiative of honouring journalists.
“Bashundhara Group has not only given awards to journalists but also showed respects to the media industry. The journalists are leading the society through opening third eye,” the Information and Broadcasting minister said.
