News Network with the support of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) awarded eight journalists for best reporting on Democracy and Human Rights issues. Journalists, based in remote rural districts of Bangladesh who were trained by the News Network, participated in the competition. The award giving ceremony was held on 29 February at News Network Office in Dhaka.
The winners are: First – Maksud Ali, Staff Reporter of The Daily Probaha, Khulna; Second – Mohammad Ali, Correspondent of the Dainik Deshbarta, Dinajpur; Third – Rashidul Islam, Staff Reporter of The Daily Manabzamin, Khulna. Five journalists jointly secured the fourth position. They are Hedait Hossain, Reporter, Jugantor, Khulna; Golam Rabbani Sourov, Correspondent, Bahumatrik.com, Bogra; Amit Roy, Correspondent of Jugantor, Mymensingh; Shihab Uddin Bipu, Correspondent of NTV, Brahmanbaria; Abdur Razzak Rana, Bureau Chief of Dainik Sangram, Khulna office.
Jury members Farid Hossain, Correspondent, Time Magazine and former Bureau Chief of The Associated Press, Dhaka; Shamsuddin Ahmed, Former Joint Editor, The Daily Observer; and Ziaur Rahman, Special Correspondent, The Financial Express; and News Network Editor and CEO Shahiduzzaman, trainers and programme organisers were present at the function.
