Hitting corruption with wit, creativity

Cartoons by Arafat Karim (first prize, Group A) and ASM Shahidullah Faruk (Third prize, Group-B).

It is of key significance to encourage anti-corruption attitudes among the youth. That is exactly what Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has set out to do. Over the last five years, the organisation has held countrywide cartoon competitions and exhibitions with participants in the age groups 13-18 (Group A) and 19-35 (Group B).
In keeping with this endeavour and also marking International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9), the 'Cartoon Against Corruption Exhibition 2010' is being held at Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University from December 9 to 16.
Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the exhibition, as chief guest, and handed awards to the best cartoonists for the year on December 9. Executive director of TIB, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, delivered the welcoming speech. Chairman, Board of Trustees of TIB, M. Hafizuddin Khan, also spoke on the occasion.
At the exhibition, the playful colours and faces address a dark issue. The cartoons reveal the most indigestible truths in a manner that the viewer cannot help but smile at.
The most remarkable aspect of the exhibition is that these works are mostly by artists in their teens and early 20s. At a time of their lives when they should be having fun, they've tried to understand and make others realise just what is going on around us. People in their 30s, who are expected to be hidden behind their stacks of office files, or other personal/official burdens, too have taken the time and effort to alert the masses about the ills of corruption.
Syed Manzoorul Islam, Shishir Bhattacharya, Ahsan Habib and Sharier Khan have judged the competition. Arafat Karim (First), Syed Nafis Sadique (Second) and Ataur Rahman Talukder (Third) from Group-A and Manobendro Golder (First), Mehedi Haque (Second) and ASM Shahidullah Faruk (Third) from Group-B bagged awards this year.
Taium, Asim, Naim, Tushar, Mowsona, Saif and Faizur from Group A and Mehedi, Rajkumar, Rashad, Soma, Uzzal, Swapon, Biplab Kumar Hore, Rashid, Sumon, Masum, Shafiqul, Ahsan, Gautam, Syful, Karidul, Ishac, Prodip, Juton, Razib, Biplob Kumar Chakroborty, Arif, Afanur and Mithun from Group B received special mention.
As part of TIB's Youth Engagement and Support (YES) programme, the competition and exhibition are aimed at creating greater awareness and motivation among the young to say “no to corruption.” Fifty-eight cartoons out of 459 entries are on display at the exhibit from 12-8pm everyday.