Agriculturist Abul Bashar Miraj has received the first Agriculture Journalism Award-2024 introduced by the Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURS) for his special contribution to the promotion and dissemination of agricultural technology. He has been associated with the Bangladesh Agricultural University Journalists Association (BAUJA) for more than half a decade and has been playing an important role in disseminating various information and technologies related to agriculture.
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Center of the University, the former Minister of State for Planning Prof. Dr. Shamsul Alam handed over the award to him as the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony and annual workshop. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Emdadul Haque Chowdhury was present as the main sponsor of the event. The Director General of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Dr. Debashish Sarkar, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization representative of Bangladesh. C. Jousin were present as special guests. The program was presided over by Professor Dr. Mahfuza Begum, Director, BAURS.
It is known that in the two-day workshop, based on the H-Index of the ongoing research in 2022-2023, a total of 16 researchers of BAU were given ‘Global Research Impact Recognition Award-2024’. “Professor” Dr. Ashraf Ali Khan Memorial Agriculture Award-2023′ was awarded to 6 farmers at the farm level for making a special contribution to agricultural production by using modern technology in agriculture. In addition, a total of 27 lakh 60 thousand taka will be paid to 61 researchers for publishing articles in quality impact factor journals from research projects conducted by the university.
When asked about his feelings after receiving the award, agriculturist Abul Bashar Miraj said, ‘I am very happy and motivated to receive the award for the first time introduced by BAURS. First of all, I would like to thank Bangladesh Agricultural University authorities for introducing such an award in agricultural journalism. Thanks to all the Jury Board, they found me worthy of the award. It is undoubtedly a much-coveted award for me. It feels great, this award has given me more responsibility in doing agriculture journalism.’
It should be noted that Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURS) annually awards prizes and cash in various categories for special contributions to education, research and extension. In continuation of that, this special award was introduced for the first time in agriculture journalism.