Nagad to sponsor DRU Best Reporting Award 2026

Mobile financial service Nagad will sponsor Dhaka Reporters Unity's (DRU) Best Reporting Award 2026, which has been titled "Nagad-DRU Best Reporting Award 2026".

Nagad and DRU jointly announced the sponsorship at a press conference at DRU's Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium today (6 October), according to the press release.

Awards will be presented for subject-specific reporting across 26 categories, divided into two segments: print-online and television-radio. Two categories for the best report will be open to all media outlets, and the President of Bangladesh will present the awards.

A panel of 10 senior journalists will review and evaluate submissions to select the year's best reports.

DRU members can submit reports published or aired between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 for nomination. The submission deadline is 14 October.

Speaking at the press conference, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon said recognising reporters for the best reports of the year was a positive initiative that helped advance journalism in the country. Since its inception, DRU has played this role, and the initiative has positively influenced journalism, he added.

DRU General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel said Nagad, the postal department's mobile financial service, was partnering with DRU for this year's initiative. He said the homegrown service had quickly established a significant position in the country's digital transaction sector.

"Nagad has partnered with DRU in three award programmes, including this year's event. We thank and welcome the homegrown service for its continued efforts to encourage journalism in the country," he said.

Nagad Chief Commercial Officer Mohummed Shahin Sarwar Bhuiyan said, "Dhaka Reporters Unity is one of the leading organisations representing journalists who contribute to journalism in the country. We are delighted to be associated with such an initiative as a homegrown mobile financial service."

"We believe journalists play an important role in highlighting various irregularities in society and serve as the eyes of the state on matters relating to rules and regulations. As always, we are partnering with this award to encourage better and more enriched journalism," he added.

Nagad Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Muhammad Anisur Rahman Bhuyan, Nagad Head of Media and Communications Muhammad Zahidul Islam, and Nagad-DRU Award Coordinator and DRU Organising Secretary MM Jasim attended the press conference.

Members of the DRU Executive Committee, DRU members and senior Nagad officials were also present.

Nagad first partnered with the DRU Best Reporting Award in 2021, when the awards were presented at a grand ceremony. It renewed the partnership in 2025 and is joining the initiative for the third time in 2026, continuing its efforts to promote quality journalism by recognising some of the country's leading journalists.