Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Saturday awarded three journalists and Taalash, a TV program, for their role in investigative reporting on corruption.
TIB’s “Anti-Corruption Investigative Journalism Award 2023” was announced at MIDAS Centre in Dhanmondi of the capital on Saturday.
A total of 54 reports were submitted for the award this year.
After scrutiny by jury members, a total of three journalists and the documentary program were awarded this year in the print media (national and regional categories) and electronic media (reportage and documentary) categories.
The awardees include Shariful Islam, chief reporter of Ekushey Patrika (https://www.ekusheypatrika.com) from Chittagong; Zahid Hasan Shakil, Savar correspondent of Daily Kaler Kantho, Hasan Misbah, senior reporter of independent Television
Shariful Islam received the award in the local newspaper/online category for a three-part series of his reports on counterfeit medicine and the medical sector.
Zahid Hasan Shakil got the award in the national newspaper category for his report on Ashulia police station and Hasan Misbah in the electronic media (report) category for his report on SPA Medical.
In the Television (Documentary) category, Independent Television's documentary program “Talaash '' won for the documentary program aired on May 27, 2022 titled “Shram Bhabhane Ghusher Banijya''.
Winners in regional and national newspaper categories were each awarded certificates, crests and cheque of Tk1.25 lakh.
The winning team in the documentary category was given a certificate, crest and a cheque of Tk1.50 lakh.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of TIB and human rights activist Sultana Kamal, Executive Editor of Dhaka Tribune Reaz Ahmad, Chief News Editor of News24 Shahnaz Munni, Planning Consultant of Boishakhi Television Julfikar Ali Manik, and investigative journalist and investigative journalism trainer Mohammad Badruddoza Babu attended the program.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman at the program said: “Article 13 of UNCAC emphasizes creating an environment to ensure the participation of everyone in speaking out against corruption or expressing opinions, and the government must foster this environment. The underlying agenda of ‘development first, democracy later’ essentially means never achieving true democracy. To foster people-oriented development, we need democracy, with a specific emphasis on freedom of speech, transparency, and accountability. Only then development can be truly meaningful.”
Advocate Sultana Kamal said: “Previously, if a news was unfavorable to a political party or leader, journalists faced pressure. However, at present, when a news is unfavorable to traders, bureaucrats, or any other group, instances of journalists being killed take place. Journalists also face increased pressure, especially when exposing corruption.”
Zafar Sadiq, Coordinator of the Outreach and Communication Department at TIB, delivered the keynote address on media, freedom of speech, and investigative journalism.
