UNDP Bangladesh Recognised Journalists’ Contributions to Judicial Independence

Media Excellence Honoured for Strengthening Justice, Accountability, and the Rule of Law

December 13, 2025

Award recipients pose with chief guest, special guests, and organisers at the Media Award on Judicial Independence 2025, jointly organised by UNDP Bangladesh and the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) in Dhaka.

©UNDP Bangladesh

UNDP Bangladesh jointly with the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) organised the Media Award on Judicial Independence 2025, honouring journalists for excellent reporting on Bangladesh’s justice sector. The event was held on International Human Rights Day, reinforcing the role of free and responsible media in advancing democratic governance.

Photograph of a formal award ceremony with a group presenting a certificate beside a flowered table. — A female journalist is honoured for excellence in judicial reporting at the Media Award on Judicial Independence 2025, highlighting women’s leadership in justice journalism.

©UNDP Bangladesh

Ten awards were presented across two categories- print and electronic media. The awardees are Mohammad Didarul Alam (Daily Ittefaq), Mohammad Gulam Rabbani (The Financial Express), Abu Saleh Rony (Dainik Samakal), Baharam Khan (The Daily Star), Ehsanul Haque Jasim (Daily Sun), Md Iqbal Hossain (BTV), Shakera Arju (Ekushey TV), Habibul Islam (Star News), Asadur Rahman (Radio Padma), and Syeda Sabrina Mojumder (Desh TV).

The Chief Guest, Ms. Mahbuba Farjana, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, acknowledged the media’s vital role in promoting judicial independence, rule of law, and justice in a society. She added, “We understand that court reporters face many challenges in their day-to-day work, yet journalists must uphold the highest standards of accuracy and responsibility in their reporting.”

Group on stage, a certificate handover at a flower-decorated table, banners in the background. — A Male journalist receives the Media Award on Judicial Independence 2025 from distinguished guests during the ceremony jointly organised by UNDP Bangladesh and the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) in Dhaka.

©UNDP Bangladesh

Welcoming the participants, UNDP Bangladesh’s Head of Communications, Mr. Md. Abdul Quayyum, emphasized on the growing importance of media vigilance amid rising misinformation and stressed UNDP’s willingness to expand collaboration with partners to continue this annual recognition of strong justice journalism.

Speaking as Special Guest, Judge Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, Registrar of the High Court Division, highlighted media as the fourth pillar of democracy and mentioned that many news reports carry evidential value in court. He stated, “The Chief Justice’s reform initiatives have reached the wider public through robust media coverage. We commend law reporters for helping citizens understand judicial reforms, supporting the establishment of the Supreme Court Secretariat, and call for their continued contribution to ensuring a just society.”

Representing UNDP, Mr. Md. Mazedul Islam, Project Manager of “Support for Advancing Reforms and Democratic Governance” reaffirmed UNDP’s long-standing commitment to justice sector reform and highlighted the training of nearly 200 court reporters through five capacity-building workshops this year.

In her video message, Ms. Paola Castro Neiderstam, First Secretary at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh congratulated the award recipients and stated, “Journalists are, in many ways, the frontliners of democracy. Media freedom ensures checks on power and keeps the public informed. Sweden is therefore proud to collaborate with UNDP in supporting capacity-building initiatives for journalists.”

On behalf of the jury, Mr. Shahed Mohammad Ali, Editor of The Daily Samakal, offered constructive feedback on the submissions, noting that the winning reports effectively highlighted citizens’ struggles and showcased the role of the Supreme Court. He also encouraged greater thematic diversity in future entries.

Closing the ceremony, Mr. Muhammad Hiruzzaman, ndc, Director General of NIMC, reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to strengthening media capacity and expressed hope for continued collaboration with UNDP and development partners.

The Media Award on Judicial Independence 2025 reflects a shared commitment to promoting accountability, strengthening legal journalism, and supporting a more transparent and independent justice system in Bangladesh. Stakeholders appreciated this important initiative, noting that this is the first time journalists covering judicial affairs have been formally honoured for their contributions.