TBS journo Abul Kashem wins BCCCI-ERF Award 2021

The Business Standard's Special Correspondent Abul Kashem and Deputy Editor Sajjadur Rahman have won the BCCCI-ERF Award 2021 for best reporting on bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and China.

The Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI) and the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) jointly gave the awards at a programme at the ERF's Paltan office in the capital on Sunday.

The duo bagged the award for their report titled "Can we grab the China bounty?" Sajjadur Rahman is now the editor of the Business Insider.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was the chief guest at the award-giving ceremony while Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming attended the event virtually as the special guest. Senior officials of the BCCCI and the ERF were also present at the ceremony.

The BCCCI-ERF Award was given for the first time this year. More than 50 ERF members submitted their reports and 10 reports in 10 categories based on different aspects of Bangladesh-China relations were awarded.

The winning reporters were given a crest, a certificate and Tk50,000 prize money.

Daily New Age Special Correspondent Sakhawat Hossain received the award in investment of Chinese state companies in important infrastructure projects of Bangladesh category; The Daily Star Staff Reporter Ahsan Habib in Chinese private investment in Bangladesh category; Alokito Bangladesh Staff Reporter Mousumi Islam in Chinese companies' involvement in Bangladesh's private sector's growth category; The Financial Express Special Correspondent Jasimuddin Harun in lifestyle of Chinese investors and their employees in Bangladesh category; The Financial Express Economic Editor late AZM Anas in challenges to the development of Bangladesh-China relations category.

Besides, News24 Television Staff Reporter Babu Kamruzzaman received the award higher education of Bangladeshi students in China category; Jamuna Television Senior Reporter Alamgir Hossain in Bangladesh-China private sectors' initiative during coronavirus pandemic; Gazi Television Staff Reporter Touhidul Islam in private sector initiative in the tourism, hospitality and cultural sectors of Bangladesh and China category and Jamuna Television Senior Reporter Masuduzzaman Robin in Bangladesh-China geographical economy or economic diplomacy category.

The judging panel of the award consisted of Ahsan H Mansoor, executive director of Policy Research Institute; AMM Harun Rashid, chief news editor of The Business Standard; Shah Md Sultan Uddin Iqbal, vice-president of BCCCI, and Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, one of the editors of the Global Investigative Journalism Network.

Serajul Islam Quadir, former Reuters bureau chief, coordinated the entire award process while BCCCCI President Gazi Golam Murtaza and ERF President Sharmin Rinvi co-chaired the awarding ceremony.

At the event, BCCCI Secretary General Shahjahan Mridha said the main goal of BCCCI is to create warmer economic, trade and diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China. The reports that have been awarded today will advance the goal.

ERF General Secretary SM Rashidul Islam said China is one of the development partners of Bangladesh. There is dependence on China in various areas of trade and commerce. In addition to the support in vaccinating against Covid pandemic, China is cooperating in various development activities in the country. It is hoped that the BCCCI will take this relationship further.

BCCCI Joint Secretary General Al Mamun Mridha said similar awards will be given to ERF members in the future for their role in strengthening economic and trade ties between Bangladesh and China. Fellowships will also be introduced.