UNICEF yesterday honoured 49 media professionals for their outstanding contribution in advancing the rights of children in different streams of media, reports UNB. The ‘Meena Media Award’ has stepped into the 13th year in 2017 after being launched in 2005 to celebrate excellence in creative media and journalism in both print and electronic streams.

To mark the 13th Anniversary, awards were given on Online/Print Media, Radio and Visual (Reports/Creative contents including Videography) and News Photography categories. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Edouard Beigbeder on behalf of UNICEF Bangladesh, presented crests, award money and certificates to the winners.

UNICEF Bangladesh Goodwill Ambassadors actress Arifa Zaman Moushumi and magician Jewel Aich were also present.

The award ceremony brought children’s voices to the forefront through a colourful and fun filled cultural event and a celebration of the contribution that the media is constantly making to change the lives of children.

Media professionals from the all corners of the country submitted their media production covering the issues of child protection, education, child trafficking, nutrition for children, violence against children and many other issues that are important and are affecting children in the society.

The award is named after Meena, a popular animation character endeared by children and adults alike in Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia.

Broadly divided into ‘creative’ and ‘journalistic’ categories, entries have been sought under specific age groups. The first, second, and third award recipients of each category and age-groups received cash prizes.

The judges included, Selina Hossain, Shahnoor Wahid, Robaet Ferdous, Fahmidul Haque, Zakir Hossain Raju, Qadir Kollol, Ratan Paul, Mithila Farzana, Rafiqur Rahman, Jannatul Mawa and Abu Naser Siddique.