Sylhet Bureau

The “Fahim Al Ishaq Chowdhury Trust” has launched an initiative to award scholarships to meritorious students from grades five to eight in schools and madrasas of two upazilas in Sylhet, Zakiganj and Kanaighat, to promote education.

Through examinations scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday 500 scholarships will be awarded across three categories from a pool of 2,100 students.

The scholarship amounts are as follows: Tk2,500 for the Merit Grade, Tk2,000 for the First Grade, and Tk1,500 for the General Grade.

Each student will also receive a certificate. The scholarship distribution ceremony is planned for either the last week of January or the first week of February next year.

The first day of the scholarship examination took place on Sunday at Moulovi Sair Ali High School in Parchak, Zakiganj, from 11am to 2pm.

A total of 1,147 students from 69 educational institutions participated in the event in a festive atmosphere.

Following the examination, school bags, pens, food, and other gifts were distributed to all participants, adding to their joy and enthusiasm.

To share information about this initiative with people at home and abroad, a meeting was held on Sunday at 12pm at Moulovi Sair Ali High School.

During the event, Md Shabbir Ahmad, the secretary of the trust, elaborated on the objectives, social significance, and future plans of the Fahim Al Ishaq Chowdhury Trust and its scholarship program to the attending journalists.

He stated: "This scholarship program will encourage talented students, support the development of their potential, and strengthen their journey toward higher education. Furthermore, it will establish the Trust as a model example in promoting education in the region."

The meeting also included speeches by the Vice-President of the trust, ATM Selim Chowdhury, the elder brother of the Trust's founder, Fahim Al Ishaq Chowdhury, the Upazila Education Officer, heads of various educational institutions, and prominent personalities from Zakiganj and Kanaighat Upazilas. The Secretary and senior officials of the Trust addressed various questions from the journalists present.

The Fahim Al Ishaq Chowdhury Trust is working tirelessly to ensure the welfare and development of the people of Zakiganj and Kanaighat through the promotion of education, poverty alleviation, and humanitarian services.

Pubali Bank Tree plantation programme at Sylhet Govt College

As part of Pubali Bank PLC's ongoing nationwide 'Tree Plantation Programme a similar program was held at the Sylhet Government College campus on Sunday morning,

Sylhet Government College Principal Professor AZM Mainul Hossain was present as the chief guest at this programme initiated by the Pubali bank's Sylhet branch.

Pubali Bank's Sylhet Principal Office Head and General Manager Chowdhury Mohammad Shafiul Hasan, Sylhet Eastern Region Head and Deputy General Manager Md. Fazlul Kabir Chowdhury, Sylhet Western Region Head and Deputy General Manager Md. Mosahidullah and Sylhet Branch Assistant General Manager Pradyot Kanti Das were present as special guests.

As part of the program, more than two hundred saplings of various indigenous species of fruit, forest and medicinal plants were planted in the college campus.

Speaking as the chief guest, Professor AZM Mainul Hossain said that there is no alternative to tree plantation to maintain the purity and vitality of the environment. In addition to stopping unnecessary tree cutting, new environmentally friendly trees should be planted. He highly appreciated this tree plantation program of Pubali Bank and said that such small individual and institutional initiatives are trying to save the nation from environmental disasters. Speaking as the special guest, Chowdhury Mohammad Shafiul Hasan, Head of Sylhet Principal Office and General Manager of Pubali Bank, said that Pubali Bank is also conducting various CSR activities across the country in addition to contributing to the economic prosperity of the country, and tree plantation is a part of this. He expressed the hope that similar activities will continue in the future.

Shah Tamanna Siddique, Associate Professor of Botany Department of Government College, Shahanara Parveen, Assistant Professor of Bengali Department, Halima Akhter and Md. Farid Mia, Assistant Professor of Political Science Department, Sohel Rana, Lecturer of Economics Department, Nazir Ahmed, Lecturer of Geography and Environment Department, Tapash Sutradhar, Lecturer of Chemistry Department, Ali Omar Faruk, Physical Education Teacher, Pubali Bank Shahi Eidgah Branch Manager, Mosha Kazi Mahbuba, Chowkidekhi Branch Manager, Binayak Chakraborty, among others also attend here.

Shakila Bobby gets 9th BRAC Migration Media Award

Shakila Bobby, a staff reporter at the Sylhet bureau of the national daily newspaper Khaborer Kagoj and a staff reporter at Sylhet Today, has won the BRAC Migration Media Award for the second time for her investigative journalism on migration. She and 16 other journalists received the award. The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Daily Star Bhaban in the capital recently.

The chief guest at the event was the European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh, Michael Miller.

He said, "The European Union member states believe in regular, safe and dignified migration. If we are skilled in the kind of work we are looking for, more Bangladeshis will be able to migrate to Europe for work. If safe migration is ensured, both the European Union and Bangladesh will benefit."

He commented that journalism is important in the immigration sector, saying, "The work of journalists plays a role in the decision-making of policymakers. If the media works objectively, the immigration sector in Bangladesh will move forward further."

In November 2023, a news report titled 'Sylhet stirs after 45 people cancel Canada trip together, what's behind it?' was published in the daily Khabar Kagoj. He was given this award for this investigative and objective report.

Sixteen journalists were awarded in three categories: print, online and electronic media. Shakila Bobby, a staff reporter of the Sylhet bureau of the Daily Khabarer Kagoj, won the third prize in the online category.

This year, The Business Standard's Kamrun Nahar and Masum Billah jointly won first place in the Newspaper (National) category. Saiful Masum of Ajker newspaper came second and Hasanuzzaman of Dainik Inqilab came third.

In the regional newspaper category, Shariful Islam of Ekushey Patrika came first, Iftekhairul Islam of Daily Chittagong Khabar came second, and Md. Shaheen Alam of Weekly Chauddagram came third.

In the television news category, Banglavision's Kefayetullah Chowdhury Shakil won first place, accompanied by Mohammad Rajibul Islam on camera. Channel 24's Md. Rasheduzzaman came second, accompanied by SI Sumon on camera, and RTV's Md. Tanvir Hasan came third, accompanied by Channel 24's Md. Zakir Hossain Rana. Independent Television's Md. Nazmul Sayeed and camera person Kazi Mohammad Ismail won the award in the television program category. Radio Tehran's Md. Badsha Mia won the award in the radio category.

Md. Jahangir Alam of Jago News won the first prize in the online newspaper category. Ajay Kundu of Prothom Alo came second, and Shakila Bobby of Khabarer Kagoj and Saddif Sohrab Obi of Bangla Tribune jointly took third place.

The winners received a crest, certificate, and a check for the prize money as prizes.

The keynote speaker of the event, Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star said, 'Migrants send remittances of 22 to 23 billion dollars to the country every year. The government should emphasize investment in this sector and ensure the welfare of expatriates. Journalists can play an important role in this.'

In his presidential address, BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh said, "Expatriates complain that no one listens to their problems. Because of this, they are deprived of the benefits they deserve."

Mohammad Shaheen, NDC, Joint Secretary (Development Branch) of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said, "The government is working to make overseas migrants skilled through various initiatives. If skilled labor migrates, the immigration process will become safer."

Shariful Hasan, Associate Director (Migration and Youth Platform) of BRAC, presented the keynote address. Safi Rahman Khan, Director of Education and Skills Development and Migration Programme, delivered the welcome address. Rahnuma Salam Khan, National Programme Manager of the International Labour Organization, spoke as a member of the jury board.

The Migration Media Awards were launched in 2015 to recognize journalism's contributions to the migration sector. This year, the awards are being presented for the ninth time with the support of the Protshaya-2 project, implemented with the support of the European Union and co-funded by BRAC. Representatives from various embassies and various domestic and international organizations were present at the event.