UNESCO Dhaka

UNESCO supports creation of the first ever citizens' media forum in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh citizens are largely unexposed to the notion that they have a stake in the media. Newspaper readers or TV viewers are happy to play the passive consumers even as their counterparts in neighbouring India and Pakistan have started raising their voices on media issues. A strong relationship between the media and citizens based on mutual trust is crucial for developing and sustaining free and pluralistic media organisations and indeed for healthy democratic societies. But it's a process that has to be nurtured and built over time. There has been no serious attempt in this regard in Bangladesh, until recently.

The Daily Star bagged both the awards in the print media category while Channel i and Bangla Vision won one each for television reporting, says a UNESCO press release issued on 3 May 2009.

UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Awards 2009 was given for the best investigative report carried or telecast in any Bangladeshi print and electronic media in 2008. There were two awards for the print and two for the electronic media with one award reserved for female reporters for both print and electronic media.

It was in 2008 when UNESCO Bangladesh introduced the UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award to mark the World Press Freedom Day observed on 3 May all over the world. The award is given for the best investigative report published or telecast in print or electronic media in Bangladesh. Through this award UNESCO seeks to recognize and encourage quality investigative reporting and by extension quality journalism. This is part of UNESCO's efforts towards media development as well as reinforcing freedom of expression and press freedom in Bangladesh.

This year Canadian High Commission Bangladesh and Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) have joined UNESCO in marking the World Press Freedom Day by honouring journalists for their professional excellence through this award. Entries have already been invited through newspaper advertisement.

Every year in March, UNESCO celebrates International Women’s Day (March 8) by hosting a flagship programme, consisting of round-tables, conferences, exhibitions and cultural events that highlight issues relating to the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality.

Message from Mr. Koichiro Matsura, the Director General of UNESCO

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