Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday said the mass media is currently working completely independently as there is no control exercised over the media.  The Home Minister came up with the remark while addressing a function on DRU Best Reporting Award-2022 at Nasrul Hamid Auditorium  of Segunbagicha in the city organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Tuesday afternoon.  In his speech, the Home Minister said that as the number of daily newspapers has increased, the number of electronic media has also increased. Earlier, when writing news, there were various types of censorships, but now there is no such thing, he said.   "There is no control over the mass media. They are currently working completely independently," the Home Minister said.  The minister said that there are roaming journalists everywhere. "When something is happening, it is coming out through them immediately," he added. "It is a challenging world, in which you are earning reputation. Today, those who excelled are being honoured. Thank you to all who have been awarded," Khan said.  The Home Minister called upon the journalists to contribute more, and to write "positive news" equally.  "You will work to advance the country," he added.  Read more: Militancy has no place in Bangladesh: Home Minister  The awards were given to 11 winners for 10 prizes in four categories based on the marks received from the jury board members.   Later, the invited guests along with the minister handed over the prizes to the winners. Rajeev Noor (Samakal) won the award in the liberation war category. He received this award for his series reporting on Etihaser Chhera Pata.  Abu Zar Anshar Uddin Ahmed of Samakal won the first prize in the print media category, Md Ismail Ali of the Daily Share Biz got second prize, while Jameel Khan of Daily Star and Obaidullah Roni of Samakal jointly got the third prize in this category.  Read more: Warned Myanmar against firing shots towards Bangladesh, says Home Minister Abu Zar Anshar Uddin Ahmed of Samakal won the first prize in the print media category, Md Ismail Ali of the Daily Share Biz got second prize, while Jameel Khan of Daily Star and Obaidullah Roni of Samakal jointly got the third prize in this category.  Among others, Somoy TV web editor Mahfuzur Rahman, publisher of Dainik Bangla Chowdhury Nafiz Sarafat, DRU President Nazrul Islam Mithu and general secretary Nurul Islam Hasib were also present.   

A Magura court has sent an independent chairman candidate of the Zilla Parishad elections and his brother, himself a Union Parishad chairman, to jail after they appeared before it with a bail petition. District Sessions Jude Kamrul Hasan rejected the bail petition after the hearing in this regard was held Tuesday, said Sajedur Rahman Sangram, the public prosecutor. Independent chairman candidate in the upcoming Zilla Parishad election Shariat Ullah Rajon, and his brother Kutubullah Hossain Kuti, chairman of Shrikol UP, both landed in prison. Rajon’s opponents in the election for the chairman post include the ruling Awami League’s candidate Pankaj Kumar Kundu, who is currently general secretary of AL’s district unit, and Jahid Mia,  a former Chhatra League leader in Shripur upazila. The case for which the brothers ended up in jail dates back to August, when Shrikol UP member Chand Ali Sardar and three of his brothers were injured in an attack by unidentified miscreants at the time in Chhangachha village. Read: Chattogram Zilla Parishad candidate of Awami League ATM Pearul Islam meets CJFD members Later, a case was filed accusing Rajon and his brother Kuti in this connection, but they managed to obtain six week’ anticipatory bail from the High Court on August 31.  That six-week period ended today, which is why they were appearing before the lower court with the bail petition. Advocate Shafikuzzaman and two other lawyers standing for the two brothers refused to comment on the court’s decision today. 

An independent candidate in Brahmanbaria has become the talk of the town by winning the election for a union parishad (UP) chairman from behind bars. According to the election results, Monirul Islam got 3,961 votes while his nearest rival Abdus Salam bagged 2,472 votes in Talshahor Purbo UP polls. READ: UP election: Defeated member candidate dies under attack by winners in Gaibandha union Monirul is an accused in 14 cases linked to March last year's Hefazat-e-Islam violence in Brahmanbaria. He has already secured bail in 13 of these cases. Md Hossain Mia, who was in-charge of Monirul's election campaign, said that Monirul has been kept in jail on false charges. "In his absence, his relatives and well-wishers have continued the campaign for him," he said. READ: UP elections Phase IV: AL leader, his daughter held over snatching ballots in Thakurgaon