 | | Hanif Mahmud wins first “UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award” UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Malama Meleisea hands over the first "UNESCO Journalism Award 2008" to Prothom Alo's senior reporter Dewan Hanif Mahmud today (3 May) at 12.30pm at PIB." |
Dewan Hanif Mahmud, senior reporter, The Prothom Alo, has won the first “UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award” for a report titled “Influential people illegally occupying forest land in Bhaluka”. Malama Meleisea, UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, handed over the award worth Tk 50,000 and a crest through a ceremony held at 12 pm on 3 May at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB). “Being recognized for good work is always inspiring, but I am particularly happy as this recognition comes from UNESCO,” Hanif said after receiving the award.
UNESCO Dhaka has introduced a journalism award in the investigative report category from 2008. Reports carried or telecast in any Bangladeshi media in 2007 were eligible for submission. From this year onwards UNESCO Dhaka will commemorate the World Press Freedom Day by honouring a journalist with the UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award. The three-member Jury board comprised of Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Head of News, ATN Bangla, Farid Hossain, Bureau Chief, AP and Robaet Ferdous, Associate Professor, Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Dhaka University.
UNESCO promotes freedom of expression and press freedom as a basic human right and highlights the crucial role independent and pluralist media play particularly in emerging democracies. Through this award UNESCO Bangladesh intends to recognize and encourage quality investigative reporting that contributes to establishing transparency and accountability by exposing corruption and vices in various spheres of public life.
Biography
Dewan Hanif Mahmud, a meritorious student all through, got first class in both Honours and Masters in Economics from Jahangirnagar University. He has been working for the daily Prothom Alo for the last six years. He has traveled a number of countries including UK, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Indonesia to cover different international events. Hanif also did the two-month long IIJ Fellowship on financial reporting in Germany in 2003.
In his spare time Hanif loves reading books, specially on economics and history. He hails from Meherpur.
For further information please contact Shamim Ahsan Khan, Communication and Public relations officer at 01732284932
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