Prime Minister's ICT Adviser and CRI Chairperson Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Tuesday while encouraging young change-makers said that Bangladesh cannot afford to disregard its founding principles like secularism.
“No matter what faith you belong to, we are all Bengalees,” he said while announcing the ‘Joy Bangla Youth Award’ connecting virtually from the US due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Joy acknowledged young change-makers and said he is inspired by them.
“I get inspiration from you,” he said as he observed that the young change-makers are resolving the problems on their own without making any complains like others.
While announcing winners, he said, the aim of young Bangla since its inception has been to put those youth organisations on the same thread and get their little efforts recognised.
“Youth must think for themselves and not always depend on the grey-haired intellectuals,” he said.
Since its inception in November 2014, Joy Bangla Youth Award, named after the historical pro-liberation slogan 'Joy Bangla', Young Bangla, the youth front of CRI, has been awarding young people of organisations run by young people whose vision and initiatives catalysed positive change in society.
From US, getting connected to this event, Joy said the COVID 19 induced lockdown resulted in holding the award online, a testament of making the pledge of Digital Bangladesh a reality.
He last appeared on October 24, 2019 in Let’s Talk interacting with a group of youths at ‘Youth on Politics, a session of Young Bangla with Sajeeb Wazed.
A year later, he has made his appearance online to name the young change makers nominated for joy Bangla youth award.
In between, he has been found active urging people to follow health guidelines to stop the spread of COVID 19, through social media, in a sharp contrast to making frequent appearances for hurling political rhetoric, a trait common in the country’s political aspect.
His appearance the country’s biggest award, recognising the efforts of young visionaries to turn around their communities, surely infused a new vigour among youths to step forward to change the course of progress in their respective societies, state minister for power Nasrul Hamid Bipu, a CRI trustee, said.
This year marks the fourth edition of the ceremony and his attempt to get youths encouraged in dealing with social menaces has been paying off, Bipu said.
Joy said these organizations are “our inspiration, the inspiration of the Awami League government.”
“I want to see the problem solvers, not the complainers,” he said, adding that without any support, these young people are solving the problems of their localities on their own.
“My gratitude to them that they are helping people with their noble services,” he said. “They do it by their own merits, by their own efforts. This is our country.”
International Children’s Peace Prize 2020 winner Sadat Rahman was the recipient of Joy Bangla Youth Award 2018.
Like previous years, Young Bangla received applications from more than 600 organisations run by youths aged between 18 and 35 for their services under the categories of women empowerment, children's rights, empowerment of specially challenged and underprivileged people, youth development, empowerment of ultra-poor people, anti-drug awareness campaign, activities to deal with COVID-19, environment and climate change, renewable or green energy, healthcare, education and awareness, cultural initiatives, and disaster management.
At the first stage, the 'Joy Bangla Youth Award' will be conferred under six categories - women empowerment, children's rights, empowerment of specially challenged people, empowerment of underprivileged people, empowerment of ultra-poor people, and youth development.
In the second stage, the awards will fall under the purview of seven sub-categories - anti-drug awareness campaign, activities to deal with COVID-19, environment and climate change, healthcare, education and awareness, cultural initiatives, and disaster management.
WINNER’S LIST: SOCIAL INCLUSION:
A total of 16winners from a short list of 27 youth organizations.
For ‘Child Rights’ winners are: Happy Natore - Md. Mostafizur Rahman, and Shoshtho Indrio (The Sixth Sense)-Md. Raihanul Haque.
Sub-Category: For ‘Empowering Extreme Poor’ winners are: OBHIZATRIK Foundation- Ahmed Imtiaz Jami, Miserable Welfare Association-Tasmina Begum.
For ‘Empowering Vulnerable People’ winners are: Hate-Khori Foundation- Sumon Chandra Mistri, Ek Takay Shikkha- Nishat Soultana Chy and Goodfeelm- Md Inamul Hasan
For ‘Youth Development’ winners are: Unmesh- Biton Chakma, Ignite Youth Foundation- Muhammad Jahirul Islam, iTecH School- Hasanat Gazi and Positive Bangladesh- Sousan Suha.
For ‘Women Empowerment’ winners are: Deshi Ballers- Ashreen Mridha and Youth For Change Bangladesh- Kamrul Hasan Shawon.
For ‘Empowering the People with disabilities winners are: Centre for Rights & Development of persons with Disabilities-CRDD- Md. Jahirul Islam, Bangladesh Wheelchair Sports Foundation-Noor Nahian, and Hobigonj Association For Autism And Social Improvement (HAASI)-Kamruzzaman Rubel.
WINNER’S LIST: Integrated Community Development: A total of 14 winners from a short list of 20 youth organizations.
For ‘COVID19 Emergency Response’ winners are: Bloodman HealthCare-Dr. Monzur Hussain Chowdhury, MASTUL Foundation-Asif Amer, World Youth Army-Ayesha Akther Eti, Central Boys of Raozan- Md Saidul Islam, and Mission Save Bangladesh Foundation- Md Imran Khan.
For ‘Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Response’ winners are: Footsteps Bangladesh- Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, and Safety Management Foundation- Md. Shakhawat Hossain (Swapon).
For ‘Environment and Climate Change Activity’ winners are: Plastic Initiative Network (PIN)-Nazneen Suraiya, and Youth Environment and Social Development Society (YESDS)-Rebecca Sultana.
For ‘Health Care Education and Awareness winners are: Psycure Organization- Murad Ansary, and Dip Medical Services & Dipasha Foundation- Dr. Farzana Rahman.
For ‘Socio-Cultural Initiatives’ winners are: Pohorchada Adarsa Pathagar- Shoaibul Islam, Uttoron Jubo Songothon- Pius Nanuar and Cinema Bangladesh- Jisan Mahadi.
