With the theme – Raise Taxes on Tobacco, PROGGA has observed the (WNTD) 2014 and simultaneously has awarded Tobacco Control Journalism Award – 2014 in association with the ATMA. The ceremony was held at Hotel Ruposhi Bangla on May 29, 2014. Hasanul Haq Inu MP, the Minister for Information spoke at the event as Chief Guest. MA Mannan MP, the State Minister of Finance and Meher Afroze Chumki MP, the State Minister for Women and Children Affairs also spoke on the occasion as special guests while Prof. Dr. A A M S Arefin Siddique, Vice-chancellor, University of Dhaka was the guest of honor. Taifur Rahman, Director, Bangladesh Program of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK), presented the key note paper at the function. All of the honorable guests vowed to continue their support to slap higher tax on all forms of tobacco products in the next budget of 2014-15 fiscal considering the public health.
A large number of delegates from policy making level, mass media representatives, civil society members, anti-tobacco organization representatives were also present, while eminent journalist and Editor of The Daily Shokaler Khabar, Muzzammil Husain was on chair.
PROGGA conferred Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2014 to five journalists in four categories. Each of them received Tk 50,000, a crest and a certificate for their outstanding anti-tobacco reports.
The laurels are:
Ubaidullah Badol, Senior Reporter of Daily Jugantor for the best Bangla Newspaper report (story published during his tenure in the Daily Bortoman),
Abu Bakar Siddique, Staff Reporter of The Daily Dhaka Tribune for the best English Newspaper report,
Shah Suhel Ahmed, Chief Reporter of Daily Sylhet Surma, Sylhet for best Regional newspaper report,
Moidul Islam, Staff Correspondent of NTV for best Broadcast Report,
Rita Nahar, Staff Reporter of Boishakhi TV for best Broadcast Report.
On the occasion of WNTD 2014, PROGGA has produced a documentary based on the theme of this year which was released today at the function, and the documentary link is attached herein for your convenience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGXVgI73FPw&feature=youtu.be
We humbly acknowledge the solidarities we received from all of you during Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2014 passage.
