2 Jago News journalists win labour rights awards

Easir Arafat Ripon, senior reporter at Jago News, has received the Best Reporting Award from the Ministry of Labour and Employment for his report on labour rights. Meanwhile, Mahbub Alam, staff photojournalist at Jago News, has been awarded Best Photojournalist for his powerful images highlighting workers' rights.

The awards were presented on Thursday (May 1) at a ceremony held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Dhaka. The event was organised to mark International Labour Day and National Occupational Health and Safety Day 2025. The honours were handed over by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.

The award initiative was taken by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Mahbub, senior reporter at Jago News, receives the Best Photojournalist Award from Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus for his powerful images highlighting workers' rights.

Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Shakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, attended the event as the special guest. The ceremony was presided over by A H M Shafiquzzaman, Secretary of the Ministry.

Easir Arafat completed both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Philosophy from Jagannath University. He has long been involved in economic reporting and is a permanent member of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), and the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ). He previously received the DRU Best Reporting Award and the REHAB Award for Best Reporting on the housing sector and related banking issues.

Mahbub Alam holds a bachelor's degree from Stamford University Bangladesh.