Media bringing positive changes to society
Home boss tells IGP Media Award ceremony
The media is bringing positive changes to the society through their reporting, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
The journalists who are working with professionalism and sincerity for ensuring peace and security in the society, deserve recognition.
He was speaking at the IGP Media Award ceremony at Police Staff College in the capital's Mirpur last night.
The minister said the launching of such award is a time-befitting decision.
Police introduced the award for the first time to give recognition to the best reports of the year in the media.
This year the award was given in two categories -- print and electronic media. As there was no photograph nominated, no award was given in that category.
In print category, Habib Rahman, staff reporter (crime) of the Bangla daily Amader Shomoy, was awarded for his series of investigative reports on “Counterfeit medicine”.
In electronic media category, Maksud Un Nabi, senior reporter of Channel 24, won the prize for his report on "False identification of Rana Plaza rescuer".
The minister handed over a crest, a certificate and a cheque of Tk 1 lakh to each of the awardees.
Speaking at the programme, Bangla daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, also a member of the jury board, said the media award will strengthen the relationship between police and the media.
But journalists have to maintain professionalism so that the “relation” does not influence the report, he added.
Golam Sarwar urged police to monitor cyber crimes seriously, pointing out the recent surge of fake news.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque said the role of media is a must in the democratic system for establishing the rule of law and justice, and protecting human rights.
“We use many news reports as source of information that helps us take legal action,” he said, underscoring the need for a good relationship between police and the media.
The IGP said the media award has been launched to encourage journalists to do more good investigative reports.
Prime Minister's Media Affairs Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury welcomed the police move saying that police had a tendency to stay away from the media. But the initiative will break the barriers and improve ties, he added.
The best reports were selected by a jury panel headed by additional IGP (HRM). The other members were: Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Editor of Ekushey Television Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul.
Mortuza Ahmed, secretary of information ministry, and Mostafa Kamal Uddin, secretary of public security division of the home ministry, also spoke at the programme.