The Daily Star journalist Nilima Jahan was named a winner of the "Media Award 2021", arranged by the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) yesterday for the second year in a row.

The reporter was selected for the award for her report "Deplorable Sanitation Conditions in Dhaka Slums: Women bear the brunt of it".

A total of 11 journalists were announced winners at the virtual "World Population Day 2021" celebration programme, organised by the Information, Education and Motivation (IEM) unit of the DGFP yesterday.

This year's theme for the day was "Rights and choices are the answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritising the reproductive health and rights of all people."

Consistent with the theme, journalists were awarded for their excellence in reporting on family planning, maternal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) issues.

The other winners are: Sajida Islam Parul of Daily Samakal, Rita Bhowmick of Daily Jugantar, Rahim Sheikh of Daily Janakantha, Jinia Kabir Suchana of Channel 24, Tahsina Sadeque of DBC News, Ziaul Haque Sabuj of Banglavision, Sakhawat Sumon of Radio Today, Hasan Sohel of The Daily Inquilab, Yasmin Reema of Dainik Bangladesher Somoy, and Md Emdad Ullah of Daily Mainamati.

Each journalist received a certificate, crest and prize money of Tk 50,000.

In a separate category, top employees and organisations were selected for the award for their special contribution to family planning services and maternal and child health sectors.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque was the chief guest of the programme, while Md Ali Noor, Secretary, Medical Education and Family Welfare Division; Shahan Ara Banu, NDC, DG, DGFP; Eiko Narita, Deputy Representative at UNFPA Bangladesh; Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, DG, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); Lokman Hossain Miah, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; spoke at the event among others.

The programme was moderated by Israt Zabin, deputy programme manager at DGFP.