UNICEF announces 18th Meena Media Awards celebrating the work of 15 journalists focused on children.

Dhaka, 22 April 2024 – UNICEF honoured 15 Bangladeshi journalists, including three child journalists, for their outstanding reporting on children’s issues during the 18th edition of Meena Media Awards in Bangladesh.  

Since its launch in 2005, the Meena Media Awards have promoted child rights through recognizing excellence in journalistic reporting in print, broadcast, and online media, including reports of child journalists. 

For the most recent round of awards, UNICEF received more than 1,000 submissions from print, photo, and video journalists, working in both national and local media outlets, more than three times last year’s total of 300 entries. 

Congratulating the award winners, Chief guest, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP, the Honourable Speaker of the National Parliament said, “Media has an important role in voicing the needs of children. Their insightful analysis of children’s issues provides crucial guidance for both society and policymakers, urging them to take meaningful action in ensuring children’s rights.” 

The stories shared by winners and nominees center around critical issues such as children impacted by climate shocks, girls facing challenges in managing menstrual hygiene, children living in street situations, and children hailing from the marginalized communities. 

“The news reports, photographs, and videos showcased at the Meena Media Award today not only highlight the needs of children but also what can be done to make their lives better. As we gather here to honour the journalists, let us reaffirm our commitments to ensure that the children’s voices are heard, their dreams nurtured, and their rights protected,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh. 

A nine-member expert panel of judges comprising of leading creative writers, media professionals both from print and broadcast media, photographers and academics selected the awardees among 65 nominees in 12 categories. The judges assessed each entry through a strict marking process where the names of the participants were replaced by a specific code number to ensure non-biased judgement. 

“The Meena Media Awards annually remind us of our utmost responsibility to safeguard the rights of children. I am confident that our journalist community, including the aspiring child journalists, will continue to write about the pressing issues that impact the lives of children in Bangladesh,” said Dr. Gitiara Nasreen, Professor in the Department of Mass Communication & Journalism in University of Dhaka, and one of the 2023 awards judges. 

The UNICEF Meena Media Awards are named after Meena, the popular cartoon character held dear by children and adults in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world. Meena, created by UNICEF, has been speaking up for the rights of children, and reminding adults of their responsibilities, in Bangladesh and beyond since 1993.  

The Ceremony was held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel Grand Ballroom on 22 April 2024, Monday. In addition to the Speaker of the Parliament, Special guests included Mahfuz Anam, Editor, of The Daily Star, Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Director General, Bangladesh Television, Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Educationist, Novelist and Story Writer specially for children, Reaz Ahmed, Executive Editor, Dhaka Tribune and Shameem Akhtar, Filmmaker and Lecturer at the Pathshala Institute, UNICEF National Ambassador, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, UNICEF Child’s advocates, representatives from Media, and Donor agencies.  

UNICEF Meena Media Awards 2023 judges 

·        Nasir Ali Mamun, Portrait Photographer 

·        Abir Abdullah, Photographer, and Instructor at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka 

·        Jannatul Mawa, Photographer and Activist 

·        Ruma Paul, Bureau Chief, Thomson Reuters Bangladesh 

·        Serajul Islam Quadir, Former Bureau Chief, Reuters in Bangladesh 

·        Dr. Gitiara Nasreen, Professor, Department of Mass Communication & Journalism, University of Dhaka 

·        Shafiqul Alam, Bureau Chief, AFP 

·        Rafiqur Rahman, Senior multimedia journalist, Thomson Reuters 

·        Dr. Kajalie Shehreen Islam, Associate Professor, University of Dhaka 

Winners of the UNICEF Meena Media Awards 2023 (18 or Above) 

·        Ahmadul Hassan, Prothom Alo, “Government primary schools remained poor”  (Print Journalism- Education and Children)  

·        Md. Sazid Hossain, Daily Prothom Alo, “Rescue a baby from a fire-ravaged building” (Photojournalism) 

·        Md. Boni Amin, Jamuna Television, “Robbing the dropout students” (Video Journalism) 

·        Md Shabuj Mahmud, Independent Television, “Child buying and selling” (Video Journalism) 

·        Md Rakibul Hasan Tamim, Dhaka Post, “Period Complications: Adolescents Beside Adolescents as 'Ambassadors of Change” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change) 

·        Md Jasim Uddin, Dhaka Post, “Security excuse / Puberty is like 'the end' for Rohingya girls” (Print Journalism- Rohingya Refugee Children) 

·        Musa Mollick, Dhaka Post, “Dirty toilets in schools, teenagers in a silent epidemic” (Print Journalism- Children at risk)  

·        Nazrul Islam, Dhaka Post, “A Loophole in law due to the war on Corona:  the march of child marriage is getting longer day by day” (Print Journalism- Gender equality) 

·        Rabiul Alam, Dhaka Note, “Manta and Erosion-Hit Children Grapple with Endless Identity Crisis, Thousands Drop Out” (Print Journalism- Education and Children) 

·        Sadhan Kumar Sarker, Daily Protidiner Bangladesh, “When children are the victim of climate change” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Sharmin Rima, Cvoice24.com, “Who turned them into 'criminals'?” (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

·        Udisa islam, Bangla Tribune, “Where it comes from and where it goes, the children who are unaccounted for” (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

Winners of the UNICEF Children’s Meena Media Awards 2023 (Below 18) 

·        Md. Safayet Hossain Shanto, Daily Ajker Sundarban, “Inspiration to Survive the Extreme” (Photojournalism) 

·        MD Mojahid Islam, ATN Bangla, “ Will the 50 children and teenagers from Jessore's brothels decide to pursue prostitution as a livelihood similar to their mother's?” (Video Journalism) 

·        Md. Naime Islam, economicnews24.com, “Transgender childhood is the name of a Terror” (Print Journalism) 

Full list of nominees of the UNICEF Meena Media Awards 2023  

18 and above 

Photojournalism: 

·        Dipu Malakar, Prothom Alo, “Dengue between Mother and Daughter” (Photojournalism) 

·        Dipu Malakar, Prothom Alo, “Bicycle Girl” (Photojournalism) 

·        Maruf Rahman, Daily Desh Rupantor, “This is also life” (Photojournalism) 

·        Md. Sazid Hossain, Prothom Alo, “Rescue a baby from a fire-ravaged building” (Photojournalism) 

·        Mohubar Rahman, Daily Desh Rupantor, “A child in a prison van” (Photojournalism) 

·        Shafiqul Alam, The Financial Express, “Unequal access to education” (Photojournalism)  

Video Journalism:  

·        Kazi Zannat Ara Moumita, Maasranga Television         , “Illicit girl children are mostly victims of sexual exploitation” (Video Journalism) 

·        Md. Boni Amin, Jamuna Television, “Robbing the dropout students” (Video Journalism) 

·        Md Shabuj Mahmud, Independent Television, “Child buying and selling” (Video Journalism) 

·        Mohammad Omar Farok, Independent Television, “Sale of unborn child” (Video Journalism) 

·        Nazmul Sayed, Independent Television, “The Orphan Maker!” (Video Journalism) 

Print Journalism:  

Education and Children 

·        Ahmadul Hassan, Prothom Alo, “Government primary schools remained poor” (Print Journalism- Education and children)  

·        Farhana Haque Nila, News Now Bangla, “Children growing up in brothels also wants higher education” (Print Journalism- Education and children) 

·        Farid Uddin Rony, Daily Ittefaq, “Children of tea workers are lagging behind in education” (Print Journalism- Education and children) 

·        Kazi Nafia Rahman, bdnews24.com, “Forced to be in the coaching center under the pressure of teachers?” (Print Journalism- Education and children) 

·        Md. Khairul Bashar Ashik, jagonews24.com, “The suffering of children is not over even after the end of hunger seasons” (Print Journalism- Education and children) 

·        Mansura Hossain, Prothom Alo, “A tub of flowers on the tabla, a layer of dust on the piano” (Print Journalism- Education and children) 

·        Rabiul Alam, Dhaka Note, “Manta and Erosion-Hit Children Grapple with Endless Identity Crisis, Thousands Drop Out” (Print Journalism- Education and children)  

Child Rights 

·        Emran Hasan Sohel, The Daily Kalerkantho, “The newborn dies on the mother's lap”  (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

·        Hasan Mahamud, Risingbd.com, “SMA: Will the affected families stop in two generations!” (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

·        Ismail Hossain Rasel, jagonews24. Com, “Apartheid is polluting the children’s mind” (Print Journalism-Child Rights)  

·        Muslima Jahan Setu, Dainik Bangla, “Half of the children are not breastfed, families are turning to formula” (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

·        Sharmin Rima, Cvoice24.com, “Who turned them into 'criminals'?” (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

·        Sajida Islam Parul, Daily Samakal, “The disastrous formula of selling Formula Milk” (Print Journalism-Child Rights)  

·        Udisa Islam, Bangla Tribune, “Where it comes from and where it goes, the children who are unaccounted for” (Print Journalism-Child Rights) 

Climate Change and Children 

·        Afsana Akhter Mimi, Madhukar, “Many children in Char-region are dropping out of education because of the destruction of schools due to river erosion” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Asif Hasan Kajol, The Daily Janakantha, “Ripple effects on education, climate change” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Awal Sheikh, Dainik Bangla, “Coastal salinity: Child marriage as the 'solution' to sexually transmitted diseases” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Famiha Suhrawardy, Dhaka Tribune, “Summer’s orphans: Street children’s unyielding spirit” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children)  

·        Md.Mehedi Hasan Sajib, Jagonews24.com, “Climate change is affecting Rakhine children” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Sadhan Kumar Sarker, Daily Protidiner Bangladesh, “When children are the victim of climate change” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Selim Ahmed, Daily Protidiner Bangladesh, “There is less attention to education in Hawar, the dropout rate is increasing” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

·        Sumaya Akter Mim, The Daily Kalerkantho, “The impact of climate change on children” (Print Journalism- Climate change and children) 

Children as Agents of Change 

·        Hasan Jakir, Daily Samakal, “Children for children to prevent child marriage” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change) 

·        Md Rakibul Hasan Tamim, Dhaka Post, “Period Complications: Adolescents Beside Adolescents as 'Ambassadors of Change” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change) 

·        Md. Golam Saqlain, The Business Standard, “Juggling school and showbiz: Inside the lives of Bangladeshi child artists” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change) 

·        Mirza Shakil, The Daily Star, “From childhood heartbreak to fulfilling a nation's dream” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change)  

·        Mirza Shakil, The Daily Star, “A doer knows no barrier” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change) 

·        Sheikh Tajul Islam Taj, The Daily Star, “Children's initiative 'Green Corner' to tackle the challenge of climate change” (Print Journalism- Children as agents of change) 

Rohingya Refugee Children 

·        Deepak Kumar Acharjee, The South Asian Times, “Stateless Rohingya children: Myanmar curriculum inspire returning to home (Last Part)” (Print Journalism- Rohingya Refugee Children) 

·        Himu Chandra Shil, bdnews24.com, “The story of Meena-Rajus in Rohingya Camp” (Print Journalism- Rohingya Refugee Children) 

·        Md Jasim Uddin, Dhaka Post, “Security excuse / Puberty is like 'the end' for Rohingya girls” (Print Journalism- Rohingya Refugee Children) 

·        Tony Michael Gomes, The Daily Star, “Three Generation Stateless” (Print Journalism- Rohingya Refugee Children) 

·        Udisa Islam, Bangla Tribune, “At the end of the day, the Rohingyas' "school of their own" begins” (Print Journalism- Rohingya Refugee Children) 

Gender equality 

·        Farhana Haque Nila, News Now Bangla, “The number of female examinees in secondary schools is low due to the high number of child marriages during the Corona period” (Print Journalism- Gender equality) 

·        Nazrul Islam, Dhaka Post, “A Loophole in law due to the war on Corona:  the march of child marriage is getting longer day by day” (Print Journalism- Gender equality) 

·        Sonjit Kumar Das - SK Sagor, Daily Chattogram Pratidin, "Marriage" of garment workers in Chattogram is like child's play, family is like a house of cards, divorce is a daily occurrence” (Print Journalism- Gender equality) 

·        Sheikh Tajul Islam Taj, The Daily Star, “Married off before 15, Kids by 16” (Print Journalism- Gender equality) 

·        Sipon Deb, Moulvibazar 24.com, “Overcoming reporting limitations, not stopping them” (Print Journalism- Gender equality) 

Children at Risk 

·        Al-Amin Hasan Adib, Jagonews24.com, "Complicated" life at a young age, school students are more prone to suicide” (Print Journalism- Children at risk) 

·        F. M. Abdur Rahman Masum, Dhaka Post, “Pregnant mothers and children at risk from multi-purpose pollution, autism is on the rise” (Print Journalism- Children at risk) 

·        Musa Mollick, Dhaka Post, “Dirty toilets in schools, teenagers in silent epidemic” (Print Journalism- Children at risk) 

·        Muhammad Tarik Abedin, Dhakamail.com, “It begins and ends on the streets, even the last goodbye is also as “Unknown” (Print Journalism- Children at risk) 

·        Tanvirul Islam, Dhaka Post, “Pads in Haor areas are like 'golden deer' / old clothes are causing serious infections” (Print Journalism- Children at risk) 

Full list of nominees of the UNICEF Meena Media Awards 2023 (Below 18) 

Photojournalism: 

·        Md. Safayet Hossain Shanto, Daily Ajker Sundarban, “Inspiration to Survive the Extreme” (Photojournalism) 

·        Muntasir Tasrip, hello.bdnews24.com, “Child labor in The Factory” (Photojournalism)  

·        Md. Safayet Hossain Shanto, Daily Ajker Sundarban, “Whatever you call them, the street is their home” (Photojournalism)  

·        Khalidul Islam Tanvir, ATN Bangla, “Childhood with a Hammer in Hand” (Photojournalism)  

·        Dhee Aroni Paul, hello.bdnews24.com, “Who is behind the children begging?” (Photojournalism)  

·        Md.Sanjir Hossen Evan, bartabazar.com, “Amena’s place of Trust is only in her Fathers Embrace” (Photojournalism)  

·        Md Tajul Islam Sami, hello.bdnews24.com, “Child Beggar” (Photojournalism)  

Video Journalism: 

·        Afrida Jahin, hello.bdnews24.com, “Soddo Pushkorni has turned into a village of football” (Video Journalism) 

·        MD Mojahid Islam, ATN Bangla, “Will the 50 children and teenagers from Jessore's brothels decide to pursue prostitution as a livelihood similar to their mother's?” (Video Journalism) 

·        Muntasir Tasrip, hello.bdnews24.com, “No school for “Bede” children, victims of child marriage” (Video Journalism) 

·        Rowshan Amin Ruhy, ATN Bangla, “Do you know how dangerous the electrical wires in front of the house are to your child?” (Video Journalism) 

·        Md Mobarak Hossain, ATN Bangla, “The children of Chamar Para area adjacent to Wari of the capital have been subjected to class discrimination for ages.” (Video Journalism) 

Print Journalism: 

·        Gargee Tanushree Paul, hello.bdnews24.com, “Who cares to understand the minds of children?” (Print Journalism) 

·        Md. Naime Islam, economicnews24.com, “Transgender childhood is the name of a Terror” (Print Journalism) 

·        Gargee Tanushree Paul, hello.bdnews24.com, “Dreams buried by waste: The boys who work at landfills” (Print Journalism) 

·        Muntasir Tasrip, hello.bdnews24.com, “Small Cluster Villages: Plagued with various problems” (Print Journalism) 

·        Muntasir Tasrip, hello.bdnews24.com, “20 thousand people of Kalapara in fear of breaking the dam” (Print Journalism) 

·        Mahzabin Mashra, sylhettoday24.news, “Child-rights are being disrupted from the family” (Print Journalism) 

·        Nusrat Islam Trisha, hello.bdnews24.com, “Taboo with menstruation needs to be broken” (Print Journalism)  

·        Nusrat Islam Trisha, hello.bdnews24.com, “Why girls do not play in the field?” (Print Journalism) 

·        Prottush Islam, 71bdnews.net, “Uncertain future for the street children” (Print Journalism) 

For more information please contact: 

Faria Selim, UNICEF Bangladesh, Tel: +880 181 758 6096, fselim@unicef.org 

Farjana Sultana, UNICEF Bangladesh, Tel: +880 191 151 9507, fasultana@unicef.org