FE journalist receives award for contributions to migration sector

A journalist of The Financial Express (FE), Arafat Ara, has won the prestigious OKUP Media Award-2020 for her outstanding contributions to the migration sector.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) Minister Imran Ahmad handed over the award to her and sever other journalists at a city hotel on Thursday evening, according to a press release.

FE’s Staff Reporter Arafat Ara, freelance journalist Muhammad Owasim Uddin Bhuyan, Prothom Alo’s Senior Reporter Md Mohiuddin and Samakal’s Staff Reporter Abu Jor Ansar Uddin Ahamod received the award under the national newspaper category.

Meanwhile, Jamuna TV’s Senior Reporter Alamgir Hossain and Bangla TV’s Narsigndi Correspondent Mohammod Sharif Iqbal won the award under the category of broadcast media journalists.

Unver local journalist category, Amader Araihazar Editor Md Masum Billah and Amar Bikrompur’s Chief Reporter Md Shihabuddin Musa were recognised with the award.

Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) organised the award-giving ceremony and launched a music video of a song, titled “Ovibashi Tomay Salam”, on Bangladeshi migrant workers, performed by singer and song-writer Hyder Husyn.      

Lawmaker Nazrul Islam Babu and EWOE Secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen were also present at the programme. OKUP’s Executive Director Omar Faruque Chowdhury gave the opening remarks and OKUP’s Chairperson Shakirul Islam delivered the keynote presentation.

Journalists who have demonstrated competence in reporting on the issues of ‘Overseas Labour Migration’ and ‘Labour Trafficking amidst Pandemic’ were invited to submit their reports for this award.