The prize includes Tk 25,000 in cash along with a crest and citation that will be handed over to Shankar Lal, Golachipa correspondent of the daily, on December 29, in observance of the 12th death anniversary of freelance journalist Monajatuddin.

Adjudicators of the award committee include Editor of The Independent Mahbubul Alam (chairman), Executive Editor of the daily Samakal M Sanaullah Lablu (member) and Executive Director of Mass Line Media Centre Kamrul Hasan Manju.

Today is the 62nd birth anniversary of Monajatuddin -- pioneer of investigative journalism at grass roots level in the country.

He started his career as a journalist in the 60s and later joined the daily Sangbad in 1976. Finally he joined the daily Janakantha in 1995 and died while working on an investigative report.

Monajatuddin had written 12 books and was awarded many prizes, including Philips Award and Ekushey Padak (posthumous).

A memorial lecture will be organised at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra auditorium at 10:00am today to observe his birth anniversary.

Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam will deliver a lecture titled 'Journalism and newspaper in Bangladesh-India: Rising through acclivity and declivity.'

Former Justice Ghulam Rabbani will attend the programme as the chief guest while Dr Atiur Rahman will preside over the programme.