Adar Rahman on winning INMA 30 Under 30 Award
"My family and co-workers were over the moon when they came to know that I won this award," says Adar. "Their joy is an immense inspiration for me." Adar was informed about the award from her co-workers at Prothom Alo. "All employees, aged under 30 in our workplace, were encouraged to apply. I went into it without any expectations, so actually winning was a huge honour!" she explains. During the application process, Adar wrote a paper of close to 2,500 words on how she wants to contribute to her field as a journalist and her future aspirations. She also virtually interacted with the other nominees, through webinars arranged by INMA. "As candidates of this award, we can also attend an INMA masterclass of our choice, free of cost," adds Adar.
Since her childhood, Adar wanted to pursue writing as a profession. Her dedication towards entertainment journalism stemmed from her grandfather Md Shahidullah, who was the general manager of Ovishar Cinema Hall, Dhaka. "I was never interested in the celebrities on those film magazines that my Nanabhai brought home from his office. Rather, I was always keen on finding out about the people who wrote those articles and interviews," shares Adar.
She spent most of her childhood visiting cinema halls with her grandfather. Even though she was a student of Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA), her passion for writing led her to pursue a basic diploma course in journalism. "I was already working in the news media during my second year of undergraduate studies," she adds. "I just took one step at a time. My workplace, co-workers, seniors and editors supported me through all of it."
She started her journey as an apprentice for Barta24.net in 2011. "I worked on every section of the outlet during my time there," says Adar. Leaning further towards her dream to work in entertainment journalism, she joined Bonik Barta, where she worked for close to two years. "I wanted to work at the topmost media house in the nation. I wanted to see my name on Prothom Alo's pages. As a result, I started contributing to the newspaper's Entertainment and Culture section." As she couldn't write professionally for the same section in two dailies, she decided to change her job. Soon afterwards, she joined the lifestyle section of Bangla Tribune and worked there for the next nine months.
Just two years after becoming a sub-editor at Prothom Alo, she represented the newspaper at the 71st Cannes International Film Festival. "It was an incredible experience. I got to see and learn so much," she expresses. In spite of being surrounded by celebrities whom everyone wishes to meet, the humane stories around the festival is what caught her attention, like the one about a student who travelled 100 miles to see the festival without a ticket. "These boys were all over the place with their placards, stating that they wish to watch the films," recalls Adar.
Adar has had a bumpy road in her career, but she chose to deal with the problems in her own way. "As a female journalist, I have faced all kinds of questions," she states. "My parents also worry about my safety, especially when I travel abroad alone for work purposes – but I just let my work speak for itself." With her commitment and dedication, Adar aspires to be a positive changemaker in journalism.
Comments