Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said in a video message, “The Meena Award is creating awareness about child rights in newspapers and journalism is benefiting from it. There is now more interest in newspapers in reporting about issues related to child rights.
Novelist and president of the Bangla Academy, Selina Hussain, remarked that the award is a great initiative to increase focus on children and highlight issues related to children.
Lecturer and film director of Pathshala Sansthan Shamim Akhtar was also present as a special guest in the programme.
“Journalism plays an important role in creating a livable world for children as it explores new angles,” said Gitiyara Nasreen, professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka and a member of the jury board.
Other jury members who addressed the event included Shafiqul Alam, AFP’s Bangladesh bureau chief, Ruma Paul, Reuters chief correspondent and Abir Abdullah, photographer and trainer for the Alliance Francaise de Dhaka.