Six journalists received “Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2017” yesterday for their anti-tobacco reporting.

Porimol Palma, senior reporter of The Daily Star, received award in “Print/Online Newspaper (English)” category for his report headlined “Contrasting price rise: analysis shows food costlier, tobacco cheaper”. The report was published in the daily on May 31 last year.

Law Minister Anisul Huq handed over the awards, jointly given by Progotir Jonno Gyan (Progga) and Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), at a ceremony in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.

Other award recipients are Golam Mortuza Jewel of Daily Kirtonkhola in “Local Newspaper” category, Hamid-uz-Zaman Mamum of Jugantor and Md Shafiqul Islam of Bangla Tribune in “Print/Online Newspaper (Bangla)” category, and Sushanta Sinha of Jamuna Television in “Electronic Media” category.

Each of the recipients received Tk 50,000 in prize money, a crest, and a certificate.

In addition, Sadik Evan of bdnews24.com received a special award in “Children Journalism” category on special recommendation of the jury board headed by Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Anisul said, “Tobacco drives people towards drug addiction, and if tobacco cannot be controlled, the country's development will be hampered.”

Rate of tax on smokeless tobacco needs to be same as that on cigarettes, he added. 

Progga Executive Director ABM Zubair and ATMA Convener Mortuza Haider Liton were present on the occasion, among others.