The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) yesterday handed over its annual Best Reporting Award to 27 reporters at a function in the capital.  Reporters from print, electronic and online media, including Senior Reporter of The Independent Tareque Moretaza and Business Editor of Independent Television Shahed Siddiquee, received the DRU Best Reporting Award- 2015 under 26 categories. The award went to Moretaza for his news item ‘GP’s illegal business leasing out of transmission network’ under the information technology and telecommunication category. Shahed Siddiquee received the award for running a report titled ‘VIPs’ SIM Cards Cloned’ under the same category.
They received the awards at a ceremony at the Jatiya Natyashala of Shilpakala Academy in the City with Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu as the chief guest. Earlier in 2009, Tareque Moretaza received Monajat Uddin Smriti Award for investigation journalism. He worked at Naya Diganta, Manabzamin and Prothom Alo.  Shahed Siddiquee had received DRU Best Reporting Award in 2001 and 2005.  In his journalistic career, he worked with Bhorer Kagoj, CSB News, Sokaler Khabar, Jugantar and Daily Azadi.
Meanwhile, Hasanul Haq Inu said the government has suspended the operation of social networking platform Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp to ensure public security and check any possible anarchy by extremists. “People need not to be worried over the suspension of Facebook and messaging platforms…it’s temporary. We’ve taken the step to ensure public security as plots are on to carry out militant activities here and following the militant’s mayhem in Europe and other parts of the world,” he said. The minister came up with the remarks while addressing the award distribution  ceremony.  BTRC  suspended the operation of Facebook, Messenger, Viber and WhatsApp in Bangladesh on Wednesday following a Supreme Court verdict that upheld the death sentences of war criminals Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.  Inu also assured journalists that the government will not block the democratic and constitutional rights of press freedom and freedom of expression under any circumstances. Mentioning that Bangladeshi media are very active and critical of government activities, he said the Prime Minister and her government are very tolerant of criticisms.
He described Facebook and Twitter as the extended parts of the media and said these social media networks are being used for destabiling the country through giving instigations for secret killings, issuing death threats and revealing dangerous murder plans.  “So, we’ve been forced to suspend the operation of those. We’re working to find out effective solutions to the problem and check such activities.” Inu said those involved in secret killings can be arrested but in many cases it is not possible to thwart such clandestine attacks and even super power France also failed to do so. He said though some bloggers, writers and publishers have been killed and some others injured in sniper attacks, the government compared to the western ones, including that of France, is more capable to check violence and untoward incidents. Praising the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) for arranging the award distribution ceremony for reporters, Inu said his ministry is also thinking about introducing the best reporting awards in different categories for reporters to encourage them to make special reports on various issues.