24 March 2013, Dhaka. Five media organisations were rewarded BRAC Media Award on Tuberculosis, honouring their special contribution to tuberculosis prevention and raising awareness on Sunday, March 24, 2013. The winners expressed their strong resolution to continue their work of spreading mass consciousness.
The award recipients were Prothom Alo in the Bengali daily category, The New Age in English daily category, Banglanews24.com in the online news portal category and ATN Bangla in the electronic media category. Bangladesh Television (BTV) received special honour for their contribution to the cause.
Executive Director of BRAC, Dr Mahabub Hossain, presided over the event and Senior Director, Asif Saleh, gave the welcome speech. Farid Hossain, Bureau Chief of AP Bangladesh and Dr Asif Mujtaba Mahmud, Associate Professor of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) also spoke during the event. Thushara Fernando, Country Representative of WHO; Dr Md Ashek Hossain, Director of National Tuberculosis Control Programme and Muzaffar Hossain Paltu, Senior Vice President of NATAB were among the other honourable guests present in the event.
In his presiding speech Dr Mahabub Hossian said that, although Bangladesh stands second in tuberculosis control, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme needs to retain the success. He added that the mass media can play an integral part in this. He also suggested the utilisation of modern technology in tuberculosis control.
Senior director Asif Saleh said that the role of news media is essential in implementing the programmes and in bringing effective changes to the society. Thus, BRAC honours the news media organisations that play a leading role in freeing the country of tuberculosis.
Abdul Quium, Associate Editor of Prothom Alo; Shohel Manjur, Managing Editor of New Age, Juwel Majhar, Consultant Editor of Banglanews, Nowajesh Ali Khan, and Advisor of ATN Bangla received the award. Dr Kawsar Afsana, Director of Health, Nutrition and Population of BRAC received the award on behalf of BTV.
This event marks the third rendition of the ‘BRAC Media Award on Tuberculosis’ after the first one on 2008 and the second on 2012.
Earlier in the day, a rally was organised to observe the World Tuberculosis Day. The rally started from Shahbag, passed through TSC and Doyel Chattar and ended at the National Press Club. Officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as well as representatives of various government and nongovernment organisations attended the rally. The slogan of this year’s World Tuberculosis Day was “Stop TB in My Life Time."
