6 journalists received the “FFB Media Fellowship 2021” for their impact reporting on the mounting crisis in food security, acute malnutrition. They have played a role in covering the various crises in agriculture, maternal and child malnutrition and food habits in the poverty-stricken regions.
The media fellowship was awarded at a conference center today. Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB), a Bill & Melinda Gates supported organisation, hosted the event. Alliance for Science, a US based global shaper in agricultural innovations, provided the fellowship.
Journalists Shahanuare Shaid Shahin (Daily Banik Barta), Abbas Uddin (The Business Standard), ANM Mohibub Uz Zaman (The Daily Sun), Al Amin (The New Nation), Mehedi Al Amin (The Business Post), and Shah Muhammad Nazmus Sakib (The Financial Express) are the recipients of this year’s fellowship.
Anwar Faruque, former secretary of the agriculture ministry and chief guest of the event, said, “Prestigious media fellowships can inspire journalists across Bangladesh to report unbiased stories. The mass people will know about impactful news on food and nutrition security when journalism champions evidence-driven solutions in food security.”
The special guests of the event were Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Director of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC) and Md. Shahjahan Ali Biswas, Director of Agricultural Information Service (AIS).
Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Director of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC) and a special guest of the event, said, “Nutritious diet for all is essential to meet SDG 2, which wants to end hunger. Media fellowships are proof that journalists are doing their part to update us about the crisis in food security.”
Md. Shahjahan Ali Biswas, Director of Agricultural Information Service (AIS) and a special guest of the event, said, “Adoption of modern agricultural methods can help us understand and tackle the current challenges in food and nutrition.”
Md. Arif Hossain, CEO & Executive Director of FFB, was the chair of the event. He shared his vision to recognise more trailblazing journalism in the agriculture beat through this fellowship. He said, “Journalists show us the blueprint of the national agriculture, alerting us about the food and nutrition status. The media fellowship is a way to recognise their contribution.”
Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB) is a comprehensive communication and community engagement organization, aimed to improve access to modern agricultural innovations including agricultural biotechnology for sustainable food security in Bangladesh.