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Award for the heroes on the wheels

The daily star celebrates 27th anniversary by honouring two social workers from Khulna, Lalmonirhat

Staff Correspondent
Invention of wheel accelerated the pace of human civilisation. Jahiron Bewa, 90, and SM Alamgir Hossain Shrabon, 33, have reminded it again, emphatically, by using the wheels to serve humanity.
One, a trained nurse, has been serving patients from one village to another by using her bicycle for the last 44 years. The other, a UP member, has been carrying books on his rickshaw van, lending books to people in his locality, since being elected two years ago.
"1 treat people for common diseases like fever and cold. If I find complicated cases, I take them to the hospital, some 40 miles away from my home," said Jahiron, from Aditmari upaziia in Lalmonirhat.
"I want a hospital in my area so people can get better healthcare services," she said, as she went up to the stage with a bicycle at The Daily Star's 27th anniversary gala at the International Convention City Bashundhara yesterday.
Shrabon, an extraordinary public representative from Khulna, said he wanted to eradicate poverty through education.
"I want to present a modern, digital village in Bangladesh by 2020," said Shrabon, a dreamer and source of inspiration to people in Noihati union under Rupsha upaziia.
Addressing the two, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said, "We find hope when we find people like them. We get new strength."
The paper recognised them with a reward ofTk 1 lakh each as the audience cheered in a glittering ceremony attended by a galaxy of leaders from politics to business, academics, diplomats, lawyers, civil society members and journalists.
Six youths who made and continue to make significant contribution to social transformation were also recognised at the event moderated by The Daily Star's Arts and Entertainment Editor Sadya Afreen Mallick.
They are Tawhidul Islam, Musfika Akter Bithe, Tahua Labib Tura, Salma Sultana, Mohan Rabidas and Zaiba Tahyya.
The celebration with the theme "Journalism without Fear or Favour" began with the national anthem followed by screening of a documentary on the glorious history of Bangladesh and the achievements the country made. This was followed by rendition of patriotic songs.
Paying a tribute to these change makers, Mahfuz Anam said people like them were striving to build a prosperous Bangladesh, and The Daily Star was proud to honour them.
Bangladesh has a great future, especially when people like them work relentlessly for the wellbeing of their fellow brothers and sisters, he noted.
However, freedom of media is crucial for the country's development. Restrictive laws such as the proposed Digital Security Act, which affect media freedom, will not help this cause, he said.
Constitutions around the world protect only two professions - journalism and judiciary - one working as a watchdog and the other ensuring justice, he added.
"The government implements many large projects and takes up various policies. How does the government know that it is working properly?" Mahfuz said, adding that only the free media, and not bureaucrats, can inform the government.
Some people say development should come first and democracy afterwards, but this idea is flawed, he said.
"Democracy and development go hand in hand. If it goes hand in hand, development works for the people, otherwise it does not," he added.
The Daily Star holds the values of the Liberation War - democracy, freedom, justice, good governance -
and will always work to promote these values, he said. "Bangladesh will not prosper without free media."
Rokia Afzal Rahman, chairperson of Mediaworld Ltd, the owning company of The Daily Star, said institutionalisation of democracy and private sector-driven economic growth were the two pillars of development.
Merit-based bureaucracy, independent judiciary and a functional parliament are crucial for the country's progress, she said.
Media freedom is extremely important for the country's development, and The Daily Star has been relentlessly working towards that end, she added.
However, the media is facing many challenges, including that of ethical journalism and digitisation. Digital media is eating up a good portion of the print advertisement, she said.
"Yet, we are trying to overcome all these challenges to serve our readers,” Rokia said.
Among the distinguished guests were Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, Centre for Policy Dialogue's Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, former adviser to a caretaker government Geeteara Safia Choudhury, BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Moudud Ahmed, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Inam Ahmed Chowdhury and Abdullah Al Noman, rights activist Hamida Hossain, former diplomat Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Conoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, French Ambassador Marie-
Annick BOURDIN, German Ambassador Thomas Prinz, Dutch Ambassador Bea ten Tusscher,
actress Sarah Begum Kabari, columnist Syed Abul Maksud and noted magician Jewel Aich.