A total of nine journalists, including the Daily Sun’s Staff Correspondent Rafikul Islam, have received “BAJUS Media Award 2023’ in three categories writing informative, investigative and research-based reports on the country’s jewellery industry.

The winners received the gold medals and crests at a gala ceremony held at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital on Thursday, reports Daily Sun.

The trade body recognised a total of nine reports in three categories – Newspaper, television and online -- with the Award for the first time.

Three journalists from each category received gold medals worth Tk 1.5 lakh, Tk 1.25 lakh and Tk 1 lakh respectively.

The winners are- In newspaper category, Rahim Sheikh of Janakantha, Rafikul Islam of the Business Post, (Rafikul recently joined at Daily Sun) and Shah Alam Khan of Kalbela won the award. Besides, in television category, Mohammad Shahriar Arif of Channel 24, Farrukh Ahmed Babu of Banglavision, and Tawhidul Islam Rana of GTV, and in online category, Shariful islam of Ekheshepatrika.com, F M Abdur Rahman Masum of Dhakapost.com, and Md Abu Sayeed (Sayeed Shipon) of Jagonews24.com won the award. 

The jury comprised of eminent journalists selected reports on  different issues, including local jewellery industry in the context of global economy, implementation of gold policy, quality of ornaments and design, potential of export and competitiveness, contribution of jewellery to economy, opportunities and challenges in investment, revenue management and policy issue, harassment and efforts to fight smuggling.

The contents were published between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Meanwhile, Rafikul Islam received the award for the report titled, “Why jewellery sector banks on smuggled gold,” published by the Business Post on March 11, 2023. He joined the Daily Sun in October last year.

Earlier, Rafikul Islam won the “DJFB Best Reporting Award-2021” for his outstanding reporting on social transformation and economic development of Bangladesh arranged by Development Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (DJFB).

He completed his graduation and post-graduation from the department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Jagannath University (JnU), Dhaka. He was born in Shariatpur district in 1990.

After completing internship at Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) in 2014, Rafikul started working at Dhaka Tribune and then news agency UNB.

bd-pratidin/GR