US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today hosted a reception to honour five Bangladeshis who have recently won the US Department of State Awards addressing the most pressing issues of the time.

"It is an honour for me to celebrate this occasion with people who have demonstrated such courage and dedication in fighting for what is right," said Ambassador Haas, according to a statement today.

The honourees include Syeda Rizwana Hasan of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association; Mohammed Tariqul Islam of Justice & Care; journalist Rozina Islam of Prothom Alo; human rights activist Mohammad Nur Khan and Minhaj Chowdhury, CEO of Drinkwell.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, winner of the 2022 International Women of Courage Award for her activism in protecting the environment and human rights. She is an environmental lawyer with over two decades of activism, winning cases against deforestation, pollution, unregulated shipbreaking, and illegal land development.

Mohammed Tariqul Islam was recognised as a 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report Hero. As the country director for the NGO Justice & Care, he advocates for victims of human trafficking and is committed to increasing the Bangladesh government's capacity to investigate and prosecute traffickers.

Rozina Islam was named 2022 Anti-Corruption Champion. As a journalist, she demonstrates courage and tenacity through her investigative newspaper stories about human rights abuses and corruption in the public and private sectors of Bangladesh.

Mohammad Nur Khan is the winner of the 2023 Human Rights Defender Award. He has demonstrated exceptional bravery and persistence during his decades-long fight to document human rights abuses in Bangladesh and promote accountability.

Minhaj Chowdhury is the chief executive officer of Drinkwell, a company that won the 2022 US Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence in the category of climate resilience. Drinkwell is a US company that provides technology to create safe drinking water for underprivileged communities in India and Bangladesh.