ACC, PIB award five journos for exposing corruption

Five journalists from the print and electronic media yesterday received a media award for exposing corruption in different sectors of the government through investigative reporting.
Each of them received a crest and a certificate, and will leave for Germany today to join the three-day "Global Media Forum" organised by Deutsche Welle.  
The media award is part of the national project, "Justice Reform and Corruption Prevention", funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Announced last year, the award was given to the five journalists in five categories out of 100 candidates.
The Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) gave the award at the capital's Sonargaon Hotel. The Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University helped in the selection process.
Speaking on the occasion, noted journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, a member of the award jury, urged ACC Chairman Md Bodiuzzaman and Commissioner MD Nasiruddin, who were present at the ceremony, to follow up on the news reports, for which the award was given.
"Corruption can't be prevented just by awarding journalists who dig out scams, the ACC needs to investigate these incidents and punish the perpetrators," he said.  
In the national daily category, Rozina Islam, senior reporter of the Bangla newspaper Prothom Alo, won the award for her report, published on April 6, disclosing the scam of tempering crests given to foreign friends.  
Khurshid Mohal Shapla, sub-editor of Jessore's local newspaper Daily Gramer Kagoj, was awarded in the local daily category for a series of reports on corruption in Local Governance Support Project (LGSP-2) in April.
In the weekly magazine category, Sadiqur Rahman Mithun, staff writer for the weekend magazine Xtra of the English daily New Age, received the accolade for his feature under the headline "Tk 300cr Laundered by Cooperative", published on February 28 last year.
In the television reporting and videographer category, Badruddoza Babu, deputy chief reporter, and Mehedi Hasan Sohag, senior videographer, of Maasranga Television, were awarded for reports on corruption in the climate change fund, aired on April 28 and 29 this year.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu attended the ceremony as chief guest.