The Financial Express (FE) journalist Sajibur Rahman has been awarded the TIB’s Anti-Corruption Investigative Journalism (IJ) Fellowship- 2023 for his series of impactful stories on Bangladesh’s smart land management.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman handed over the crests and certificates to a total of three journalists, including the FE reporter, at a programme at its Dhanmondi office in Dhaka on Monday.
The event marked the final step of the six-month IJ fellowship programme. The other fellowship winners are Sharmin Akter Rima, staff reporter at Cvoice24.Com, and Shahenoor Akther Urmi, freelancer at Daily Observer.
In his speech on the occasion, Dr Iftekharuzzaman reaffirmed TIB's steadfast support for journalists and media institutions in the anti-corruption movement.
He highlighted TIB's engagement in policy dialogues concerning press freedom and protection of journalists, including reviews of pertinent laws like the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act.
TIB has been actively promoting investigative journalism in Bangladesh through its Investigative Journalism Fellowship programme, initiated in 2012.
The fellowship aims to recognize and encourage journalists to uncover corruption, promote transparency, and hold those in power accountable by following the best practices of investigative journalism.
Under the fellowship programme, four-part stories styled "Complexity, Underhand Dealings, Duplicity Upset Service-Seekers," "Complaints Galore About Abuse of Online Land Services," "Third-Party Manipulation Mar Smartness," and "Drifting Like a Ship Sans Radar at Risk" were published by The Financial Express from January 21 to 24.