DHAKA, Dec 9, 2024 (BSS) – Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) – an anti-graft watchdog– has awarded six youths for cartoons and comic strip competition, featuring artworks by young participants from various age groups, aimed at promoting anti-corruption messages among the nation’s youth.

TIB’s Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman announced the names of the winners of the 19th Anti-Corruption Cartoon Competition. He also opened the exhibition at TIB’s Dhanmondi office today.  

Prizes - a certificate, crest and cash money- were handed over to each of the winners at the programme.

Shoyaeb Ahamed (Naogaon Government College), Mahin Mehjabin Mohar (BIAM Laboratory School and College) and Ahnaf Tahmid (Rangpur Cadet College) secured first, second, and third places in the 'A' category (13-18 years), In the 'B' category (19-25 years), Arindom Kudu (Dhaka University), Asif Mohammad Yousuf (Cumilla Medical College) and Abdullah Al Zunayed (University of Liberal Arts) held top three spots respectively.

In his welcoming speech, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman warmly greeted the winners and the distinguished guests of the programme.

“Preventing corruption requires more than just the rule of law, accountability for the accused, and institutional capacity. The public must also take a strong stand against corruption. In particular, the innovative power of youth, their protests, and awareness are crucial. Cartoons serve as an essential part of that protest,” said Iftekharuzzaman.

Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Chargée d’affaires of the embassy of Switzerland, Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission, embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Duncan Overfield, Deputy Development Director of FCDO, Alenay Tansey, Office Director, Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Office of the USAID and Lovisa Hofmann, Head of Political, Trade, and Communication Section, embassy of Sweden.

The event was also attended by Ahsan Habib, cartoonist and editor of UNMAD and Mehedi Haque, senior cartoonist at The New Age, both of whom served as judges for the competition.