16 Journalists Receive Fellowship for Reporting on Marginalized Communities' Rights

Sixteen journalists from national and local media outlets, including Arif Ahmed Siddiqui, staff reporter at Bangladesh Bulletin and Pabna correspondent for Dipto Television, have received fellowships recognizing their reporting on the rights of marginalized communities.

The fellowships were awarded on Sunday during a conference titled "Inclusion and Accessibility of Marginalized Communities in Public Services", held at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy in Dhaka.

The event was organized by Amrai Pari Family Violence Prevention Alliance, which presented recipients with cash awards, certificates, and commemorative plaques upon successful completion of the Journalism Fellowship on the Rights of Marginalized Communities.

Other fellowship recipients included Amar D. Costa, Ayesha Akter Jyoti, Kaushik Dey, Laboni Yasmin, Asaduzzaman, Swapna Debnath, Lali Begum, Abdul Khalek, Suraiya Gul Raihan, Mukta Monowar, Mehrin Ashfia Jahan, Tausia Tajmin, Arniban Biswas, Samdani Haque Nazum, and Nishat Islam Bijoy.

The fellowship is part of the Expanding Civic Space through Active CSO Participation and Strengthened Governance System in Bangladesh (ECSAP) project, jointly implemented by Christian Aid, Amrai Pari Family Violence Prevention Alliance, and Manusher Jonno Foundation with financial support from the European Union.

The initiative promotes the rights of marginalized groups, including women, gender-diverse people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous communities, and Dalit communities, while supporting good governance and human rights.

The conference, held in observance of Public Service Day, brought together representatives from 33 local civil society organizations across 10 districts working to improve the lives of marginalized communities.

The first session was moderated by Zinat Ara Haque, Chief Executive of Amrai Pari Family Violence Prevention Alliance. Bonoshree Mitra Niyogi, Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, delivered the welcome address.

Among the speakers were Md. Manjurul Hossain, Director General of the National Legal Aid Services Organization, and Md. Saiful Islam, a social services official. Manjurul Hossain emphasized the need for stronger inter-ministerial coordination to ensure access to rights and public services for marginalized populations.

The second session featured representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, media, and marginalized communities, who discussed barriers to public services and strategies for promoting inclusion.

The program concluded with the presentation of fellowship certificates and commemorative plaques to the 16 journalists. Cultural performances by members of marginalized communities—including Hijra artists, Indigenous performers, and autistic children and adolescents—highlighted the diversity and cultural heritage of the groups represented.