Twelve reporters including The Financial Express (FE) journalist Doulot Akter Mala have received bKash-ERF Best Reporting Award 2022 for their outstanding contributions to financial reporting.
Planning Minister MA Mannan distributed crests and prize money among the winners attending a ceremony as the chief guest that was held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in the city's Farmgate area on Tuesday.
Mobile financial service provider bKash Limited sponsored the award organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), a platform to promote financial journalism in the country.
bKash Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kamal Quadir, Chief Communications Officer Mahfuz Sadique, ERF President Sharmeen Rinvy and its general secretary SM Rashidul Islam spoke on the occasion, among others.
Former ERF presidents, including FE Editor Shamsul Huq Zahid, jury board members and senior journalists attended the award giving ceremony.
Doulot Akter Mala, who is special correspondent of the FE, received the award in macro-economy (Print) category for her series reporting on impact of inflation in economy.
The other wining journalists include Hasanul Alam Shaon of NTV in macro-economy (TV) and Md Shah Alam Khan of NewsBangla24 in Macro-economy (Online) category.
In Capital Market category, Fakhrul Islam Haroon of the Prothom Alo won in print-online segment while Alamgir Hossain of Jamuna Television got the prize in TV segment.
In bank and insurance category, Shanaullah Sakib Tanu of the Prothom Alo and Mousumi Islam of NewsBangla24 jointly won the award in print-online segment while Babu Kamruzzaman of News24 was selected in TV segment.
Arifur Rahman of the Prothom Alo received the award in investigative reporting (print, online, TV) category.
In the private sector category (Print, online, TV), Jahangir Shah Kajal of the Prothom Alo and Shovongkor Karmakar of the same media won the prize jointly.
Shafiqul Islam of Dhaka Post received the prize in international trade and remittance category, Shanaullah Sakib Tanu of the Prothom Alo in the agro economy and Jahangir Shah Kajal of the Prothom Alo in the revenue (Revenue Sector) category.
Hailing the winners, the Planning Minister said a country's socio-economic development primarily begins with the economic development, for which economic reporters play a vital role.
Mr Mannan also recollected the memory of the late FE Editor Moazzem Hossain for his masterful role in economic journalism in the country.
Often less important news get better coverage while economically crucial reports are placed inside page of a newspaper, he said.
Referring to the success of bKash Limited, he said business entities should prioritise using the local resources for flourishing.
Kamal Quadir said bKash has been working with all Bangladeshi human resources since its operations began.
Originating in Bangladesh, a company also might become successful using the local resources, he added.
ERF has been presenting the Best Reporting Award in every two years to motivate and encourage the country's economy beat journalists.
To make this event more successful, bKkash has joined as a sponsor of this event for the first time this year.
saif.febd@gmail.com