The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Khawaza Main Uddin, Special Correspondent of New Age, has been selected one of the finalists for Developing Asia Journalism Awards 2008, organised by the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo, Japan.

A total of 25 journalists from 13 developing countries in Asia have been selected by a panel of judges and invited to attend a four-day workshop and award-giving ceremony on November 11-14, according to a press release issued from Tokyo on Wednesday.

'The event recognises excellence in journalistic reporting by those covering development trends and issues in the region,' said the release.

Main Uddin has submitted his entry in governance category and the title of his article is 'Bangladesh Agriculture Still Trapped in Ad-Hoc Policymaking'. He earlier won the UN MDG Award 2007 in a competition among journalists of Asia Pacific countries and also World Food Programme Award 2006.

Other finalists are from China, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Thailand, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.

Prizes for 2008 will be awarded for reporting in four strategic areas of development - environment, governance, infrastructure and regional integration. In addition, there are two special prizes for Development Journalist of the Year and Young Development Journalist of the Year (for entrants under 30).