Five get Meena Media Award 2006

The recipients are Rafiqul Islam Montu, staff reporter of daily Sangbad for his story on the hazardous life of child workers at Dublar Char, Zantu Chakma, video editor of Channel-S, for his film on the lives of children in Chittagong Hill Tracts and Shahiduzzaman Badal of Dhaka Photographic Institute for his film on gypsy children.

Two other recipients are Rumki Sutradhar Jhumur, 15, of Viqarunnesa Noon School and College for her essay on enthusiasm that grips Bangladesh on the occasion of Bengali New Year and Sammer Moyeen, 17, of International School Dhaka for his video production on the deplorable condition that the child workers face in the country.

The award, introduced by Unicef in 2005, is aimed at promoting excellence in media reports and programmes about children.

This year the Meena Media Award was given in five categories of print and electronic media at the Bengal Gallery of Fine arts.

Unicef Representative in Bangladesh Louis-Georges Arsenault gave away Meena crest, certificate and a cheque for Tk 50,000 to each winner.

Addressing the function Arsenault said the award pays tribute to children and adults who have written stories and made films highlighting the lives of children.

Emphasising the role of media in safeguarding the rights of children, he said the media has a responsibility to accurately portray the rights of the children as well as highlight the occasions when those rights are not upheld.

Eminent writer Selina Hossain and Unicef Communication Officer Shamsuddin Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.