Ten students of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) department at Dhaka University (DU) have received Prof Sitara Parveen Award for their academic excellence.

An amount of Tk 1, 18,534 was distributed among the award winners on the basis of their academic performance.

The award ceremony was held at Prof Mojaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of the Social Science Faculty Building at 10 am Thursday.

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DU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman attended the function as the chief guest while Social Science Faculty’s Dean Prof Zia Rahman was the special guest.

Chaired by MCJ department’s chair Prof Dr Abul Mansur Ahmed, Associate Prof Marzia Rahman conducted the event.

Awardees are Md Nasimul Huda, SM Shams Rahman, Sumaiya Sanjana Nimmi, Nausheen Beethi, Orthi Navnita, Maria Anis Chowdhury, Md. Mahfuzul Islam, Niti Chakma, Sujan Sen Gupta and Syed Mohammad Rahatul Islam.

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"Sitara Parveen was a very soft-spoken lady and perfect model for Bengali women. I feel sorry for losing her at such an early age. She passed away but will be remembered for her works and simplicity", VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman said this while addressing the event.

"The main objective of today’s award giving ceremony is to inspire our students. My request to those, who are being awarded today, is that they will be honest and responsible in their respective fields,” he added.

Recalling memories, MCJ Chair Abul Mansur said, "Her (Sitara) contribution to my life will be remembered till my death as she helped me in my tough times when my mother had died.”

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Late Sitara Parveen was a professor of the MCJ and wife of retired Prof Ahaduzzaman Md Ali who also served the department as a faculty member of the Social Science Faculty.