Award
Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday handed over the newly- introduced "Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award" to five women in recognition of their outstanding contributions to different sectors.
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The recipients are freedom fighter from Brahmanbaria Prof Momtaz Begum (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War category; Tangail's Joya Pati (posthumous) in Education, Culture and Sports; Pabna's Nurunnahar Begum in Agriculture and Rural Development; freedom fighter from Cumilla Principal Jobeda Khatun Parul in Politics; and Netrakona's Nadira Jahan (Surma Jahid) in Research.
The award is considered as the highest state award for women in the "Ka" category, according to the Women's and Children Ministry.
The award-giving ceremony was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined it virtually as the chief guest.
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The government has introduced the award to recognize five Bangladeshi women in different categories -- politics, economics, education, culture and sports, social services, independence and Liberation War, research, and agriculture and rural development -- every year.
Each awardee received a medal made of 40 gm of 18-carat gold, a replica of the medal, a cheque for Tk 4 lakh and a certificate of honour.
Begum Fazilatun Nesa, the mother of the Prime Minister and wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, embraced martyrdom along with Bangabandhu and other family members in a brutal attack by some army personnel on August 15, 1975.
She was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on August 8, 1930, and struggled for an independent Bangladesh alongside Bangabandhu.
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State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, on behalf of the Prime Minister, distributed the award among the winners.
On behalf of the award winners, freedom fighter from Cumilla Principal Jobeda Khatun Parul expressed her feelings at the event.
Walton gets Sheikh Kamal sports award
Walton has been honoured with the Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award 2021 for its contribution to all forms of games and sports across the country.
The company has been sponsoring international, rural and traditional sports including cricket, football and hockey over a decade.
Walton was recognised as the country's best sponsor organisation Thursday at a function held on the 72nd birth anniversary of Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal at the Sheikh Kamal auditorium of the National Sports Council (NSC) in the capital.
Read: 10 sports personalities, 2 organisations receive Sheikh Kamal Sports Award
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually joined the award-giving ceremony as chief guest.
State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell presided over the function.
Senior Executive Director (Games and Sports) of Walton Group FM Iqbal Bin Anwar Dawn received the award on behalf of Walton.
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The NSC launched the Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award, featuring seven categories.
Twelve persons and organisations including sports figures, journalists and organisers received the award.
Alongside Walton, the recipients of the award include cricketer Akbar Ali, female footballer Unnoti Khatun, archer Ruman Shana, weightlifter Mabia Akhter Simanta, swimmer Mahfuza Khatun Shila, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
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BINA and scientist Dr Shamsun Nahar receive prestigious IAEA awards
Dr Shamsun Nahar Begum, chief scientific officer of the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), has received the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) "Women in Plant Mutation Breeding Award."
Also, BINA, a research organisation under the Agriculture Ministry, has received the "Outstanding Achievement Award" from the IAEA.
The awards will be formally conferred at the 65th General Conference of the IAEA in September to recognise contributions to plant mutation breeding and related biotechnology, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
BINA carries out research in different areas including crop improvement through induced mutation, biotechnology, soil management and biofertiliser, irrigation and water management, pest management, physiological aspects of crop productivity, crop management, improvement of horticultural crops, technology transfer and impact assessment, and socio-economic research.
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The organisation has succeeded in developing and releasing 112 modern varieties of 18 important crops by using nuclear techniques. These varieties are now making a significant contribution to raising the agricultural productivity of Bangladesh.
BINA has also been able to identify eight rhizobial inocula for fixing higher biological nitrogen in soils to increase the seed yield of beans, pulses and oil crops.
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Paris Mission receives Public Administration Award
Bangladesh Embassy in Paris has received the Public Administration Award for its collective contributions in internationalizing the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at UNESCO.
The members of the Embassy team are Bangladesh Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate of Bangladesh to UNESCO Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, Minister (Political) S M Mahbubul Alam, First Secretary and HoC Dayamayee Chakraborty and First Secretary Nirjhar Adhikary.
Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain received the award on behalf of the Embassy team.
The award was given in general category considering administrative and diplomatic efforts of the Embassy marking the Public Administration Day.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined (virtually) the function held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city on Tuesday .
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque who joined the function in person handed over the awards to a total of 35 individuals and institutions for the year in 2020 and 2021 on behalf of the Prime Minister.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain chaired the function.
The establishment of the “UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy” was unanimously approved by acclamation at the 210th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board.
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Named after the Father of the nation of Bangladesh, the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy will award, every two years, US$50,000 to an individual or organization with recognised excellence in nurturing entrepreneurship among young people in the cultural and creative industries.
The first iteration of the Prize will be awarded in the fall of 2021 during UNESCO’s 41st General Conference 9-24 November 2021 to mark the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
Bashundhara Group receives ‘Best Business Conglomerate Group’ Award 2021
Bashundhara Group, the country’s largest business conglomerate, has received global recognition as “The Best Business Conglomerate Group” award of the year for its outstanding performance.
The Global Economics Limited, a UK-based financial publication and a biannual business magazine giving thoughtful insights into the financial sectors on various industries across the world, has accorded the award, said a media release on Wednesday.
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Every year, organizations and individuals from across the globe are awarded for their contributions to corporate, banking, healthcare, utility, energy, technology and leadership categories.
The Global Economics Limited published a list of global winners for the year 2021, showing Bashundhara Group on top of the “Best Business Conglomerate Group” segment.
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Earlier, Bashundhara Group and its sister concerns got various regional and international awards for their outstanding performances.
The group’s three products -- Bashundhara Paper, Bashundhara Tissue and Bashundhara Diapant—also received the Superbrands Award 2020-2021.
The Global Economics Limited awarded Nagad, state-run mobile banking organisation in Bangladesh, for most innovative digital financial services.
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In financial category, other recipients of the award are Arab Financial Services, Bahrain; GFH Financial Group, Bahrain; Contact Financial Holding, Egypt; Egabi solutions, Egypt; Odin Investment, Egypt; Tamweely Microfinance, Egypt; Pacific Risk Advisors Ltd, Hong Kong; IFC Markets Corp, Indonesia; Nova Asset Management Finance, Indonesia; Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia; Maybank Asset Management Group Berhad, Malaysia; Aspiria, Mexico; UNIFIN, Mexico; ATRAM, Philippines; Alkhabeer Capital, Saudi Arabia; Hatcher+, Singapore; StashAway, Singapore; HNB Finance PLC, Sri Lanka; Lanka Credit and Business Finance Ltd, Sri Lanka; People’s Leasing & Finance PLC, Sri Lanka; Vallibel Finance, Sri Lanka; Nova Asset Management Finance, Thailand; Invest in Sharjah, UAE; Newfields Consulting Ltd, UAE; SHUAA Capital Psc, UAE, Home Credit Vietnam Finance Company Ltd, Vietnam; Mirae Asset Securities (Vietnam) LLC, Vietnam; Tan Viet Securities (TVSI), Vietnam; and Vietcombank Fund Management (VCBF), Vietnam.
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9th Liberation DocFest concludes: '3 Logical Exits' wins top prize
The 9th edition of Liberation DocFest Bangladesh concluded on Saturday, crowning Mahdi Fleifel (Denmark/Lebanon) directed ‘3 Logical Exits’ as the best film of the International Competition section.
The five-day festival also awarded the film ‘Why Not’ in the National Competition section, directed by Shekh Al Mamun.
The 9th edition of the fest drew a tremendous response and participation from film enthusiasts around the world by providing a breathing space for all amid the coronavirus pandemic for the second year in a row.
Read: Curtain rises for 9th Liberation DocFest
Organized annually by the Liberation War Museum (LWM), the edition wrapped up with a concluding and award-giving ceremony on Saturday night via Zoom. The closing ceremony was joined by legendary actor and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor MP, Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Hoque, award-winning filmmaker, educator and also late filmmaker Tareque Masud's wife and Chairperson of Tareque Masud Memorial Trust (TMMT) Catherine Masud, one of the National Competition jurors Alam Khorshed, festival director Tareq Ahmed and participating filmmakers from the different regions of the world.
Lauding the success of the festival, Asaduzzaman Noor said, “I express my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of our Liberation War Museum, to everyone concerned with the 9th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh, supported by the Dhaka DocLab. These young filmmakers are working with various limitations. Still, they managed to tell and are continuously telling great stories about liberation, freedom and independence.”
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“Viewers and makers couldn’t come to the LWM and enjoy the festival live due to the pandemic, yet everyone successfully contributed to organizing the DocFest this year in this new virtual medium. We will see each other, shake hands and have tea or coffee together in a better future, celebrating the untold stories,” Noor said at the event.
Catherine Masud lauded the organizers and participating filmmakers from home and abroad, saying, “In our time, Tareque Masud and I tried to portray the truth against all threats and censorship. To the young filmmakers, I urge you to never feel afraid of telling your stories through documentaries like these. We will never rise if we rise alone. We must rise together.”
Grameenphone receives Asian Leadership Awards 2021
Grameenphone has been recognised as the best organisation for workplace and people development in the Organisational Awards category of Asian Leadership Awards (ALA) 2021.
The 19th Edition of the prestigious award ceremony took place Thursday.
Grameenphone's efforts to ensure employee wellbeing during Covid-19, focus on nurturing an inclusive workplace, digitalisation of human resource (HR) services, and a unique approach in fostering a learning culture and upskilling effort were commended at the event.
Also read: FinanceAsia Awards: SCB Bangladesh wins Best International Bank
The ALA is recognised in the industry for patronising and promoting the value of business leadership in Asia. Since 2011, the award has been inspiring hundreds of organisations and professionals to go the extra mile to ensure the healthy and consistent growth of the workforce.
This year, the program was held virtually, where the seasoned jury council of the ALA recognised Grameenphone's effort.
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Syed Tanvir Husain, chief human resource officer of Grameenphone, said: "As a connectivity partner to digitalisation journey of Bangladesh, we have been continuously putting our efforts to innovate and build future-fit skills at Grameenphone while keeping our employees wellbeing, inclusive culture, project automation, digitally-operated HR on the top in our agenda."
"We feel honoured to have been the recipient of the Asian Leadership Award 2021, and we dedicate this achievement to all the employees of the Grameenphone family."
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FinanceAsia Awards: SCB Bangladesh wins Best International Bank
Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh has recently been recognised as the ‘Best International Bank’ FinanceAsia Awards 2021.This achievement marks the eleventh occasion the Bank has received this prestigious award since 2009. This is the fifth major international award the Bank has achieved in the first quarter of 2021, according to a press release.
Read: Bangabandhu killers' gallantry awards revokedFinanceAsia is Asia's authoritative source for finance, investment banking, economic and capital markets news. Founded in 1996, the publication engages with audience consisting of corporate CFOs and CEOs, bank and broker executives, portfolio managers and service providers. Each year, The Financeasia Awards recognizes the best performing banks across the region.Commenting on the win, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, “As the longest-serving financial institution of Bangladesh, we have a unique perspective on the amazing growth story of Bangladesh. We are delighted to have been a part of this journey and remain as committed as ever contribute to the forward momentum of our nation."
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Korvi honoured with "Commonwealth Point of Light Award"
Korvi Rakshand has been honoured with "Commonwealth Point of Light Award" for his exceptional voluntary services helping young people take part in volunteering.
“It is such an honour for me to receive the Commonwealth Point of Light Award. I am earnestly grateful to Her Majesty the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth for the recognition I have received for my work," he said.
Korvi said it is truly amazing to win such a prestigious award and able to represent the work of our volunteers.
"Our 40,000 volunteers throughout Bangladesh have been doing amazing works to develop their community, this award shows that their hard work and dedication is significant," he said.
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Korvi hoped that ‘JAAGO Foundation’ and ‘Volunteer for Bangladesh’ will keep continuing doing amazing work to create a better society and keep inspiring others to join in this great cause.
The Queen has recognized Korvi representing Bangladesh as the 181st Commonwealth Point of Light.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson congratulated Korvi on his outstanding work.
In a message he said, “My warmest congratulations to Korvi Rakshand on his Points of Light award. As I have seen for myself in a Jaago school in a poor community in Dhaka, his contribution to improving access to quality education and efforts to inspire Bangladeshi young people are outstanding."
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Dickson said he is delighted that this award further strengthens the British-Bangla ties and the spirit of the Commonwealth in Bangladesh.
The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 54 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace.
The Heads of Government meeting brought together leaders from all the 54 Member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people.
Voluntary service is a vital part of this agenda, which is why The Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way, said the British High Commission in Dhaka.
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3 Bangladeshi women make it to list of top 100 Asian scientists
Three Bangladeshi scientists, all of them women, have made it to the list of "best and brightest" 100 Asian scientists for their contribution to research.
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh's Dr Firdausi Qadri, Model Livestock Advancement Foundation's Dr Salma Sultana, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology's Professor Saima Subrina have been included in the sixth edition of the list published by Singapore-based magazine Asian Scientist.
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Scientists from China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have also secured a place on the prestigious list.
Researchers and inventors from across a range of scientific disciplines have been picked based on their role in tackling this year's key challenges, including Covid-19 and climate change, said Asian Scientist.
Read 2 Bangladeshi women named in BBC 100 Women 2020 list
All three Bangladeshi scientists previously received an international award for their leadership and role in effective discovery.
Dr Firdausi, an emeritus scientist at icddr,b, won the L'Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Award 2020 for her work on understanding and preventing infectious diseases affecting children in developing countries and advocacy for early diagnosis and global vaccination.
Read Bangladeshi young medical scientist shines in Japan
Dr Salma, the founder of Model Livestock Advancement Foundation, previously won the Norman E Borlaug Award 2020 for field research and application by the World Food Prize Foundation for her work with Bangladeshi small-scale farmers – namely her efforts involving veterinary outreach, treatment, and education.
Professor Samia received the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award 2020 for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for her research on the properties and uses of nanomaterials.
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