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  DHAKA, Nov 19, 2021 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud today said the Bangalees are far ahead of the rest of the world in terms of knowledge, science, arts and culture.

  "And to keep up this progress knowledgeable people must be honoured in the society, otherwise such people won't born," he told an award distribution ceremony here this evening.

  Television Reporters Unity of Bangladesh (TRUB) arranged its 27th award distribution programme at Dhaka Club's Samson H Chowdhury Centre here.

  State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Binodan Bichitra editor Dewan Habibur Rahman and ATN Bangla adviser Tashique Ahmed, among others, spoke at the function with TRUB president Salam Mahmud in the chair.

  Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, said infrastructural as well as spiritual development is necessary for development of a nation.

  He said Rabindranath Tagore was the first Bangalee poet who won the Nobel Prize in literature outside Europe and Bangalee scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose proved that the plants have life.

  The Bangalees made advancement in the field of knowledge, science and culture from the past, and now Bangladesh becomes the 31st economy in the world, the information minister said.

  He said Bangladesh's per capita income surpassed Pakistan in 2015 and progress continues under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

  After assuming state power in 1996, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina introduced private televisions in the country, Hasan said, adding that during the tenure of the AL government, media flourished in the country, which contributed to the development of democracy here.

  Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam, environmentalist and Channel i director Mukit Majumdar Babu, founder and chairman of Nirapad Sarak Chai Ilias Kanchan, Dhaka University professor Dr Hamida Khanam and late actor Mahmud Sajjad (posthumous) were conferred with the TRUB lifetime achievement award.

  ATN Bangla and ATN News chairman Mahfuzur Rahman and Gazipur City Corporation mayor Md Jahangir Alam were honoured with special award.

  Senior journalist Chinmoy Mutsuddi was conferred with the Ahmed Zaman Memorial Award while playwright Ataur Rahman was honoured the Syed Shamsul Huq Memorial Award.

  'Biswasundari' won the best film award and 'Akhane to khono vul chinlo na' achieved the best telefilm award.

  Besides, TRUB leaders handed over awards to 75 people in different categories.