TIB awards 6 youths in Anti-Corruption Cartoon Competition

Highlights

Anti-corruption Cartoon Competition 2020

• TIB marked International Anti-Corruption Day
• Ismail Mahmud, Asif Mahmud and Tasnim Samiha Islam won in Category A
• Mahtab Rashid, Duranta Shahadat and Rahul Raj Devnath won in Category B
• TIB also awarded certificates to 42 participants
• It hosted a virtual exhibition featuring the work of 80 participants

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) – a civil society organisation dedicated to fighting corruption – has awarded six youths for drawing cartoons on issues such as relief, test kits and vaccines amid the Covid-19 crisis.

TIB's Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman announced the winners of Anti-Corruption Cartoon Competition 2020 on Wednesday, during a virtual discussion titled "Youths in the Anti-Corruption Social Movement: Cartoons and Paintings."

The anti-graft watchdog organised the programme to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, which is observed in Bangladesh, as elsewhere across the globe, every year on 9 December.

TIB awarded six young cartoonists in two categories. Under Category A – between ages 13-18 – Md Ismail Mahmud won first prize, while Asif Mahmud Yusuf and Tasnim Samiha Islam won the second and third prizes, respectively.

In Category B – between ages 19-25 – Mahtab Rashid got first prize, while Duranta Shahadat and Rahul Raj Devnath got the second and third prizes, respectively. TIB also awarded certificates to 42 participants, and is featuring the work of the 80 cartoonists in an online exhibition.

Speaking at the discussion, author and TIB Ombudsman Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam said, "When youths raise their voices against corruption, their impacts are far-reaching. Because they can easily influence their friends and family members about the issue."

"The message of integrity conveyed through the cartoons drawn by youths is playing an important role in curbing corruption," he continued.

Author, journalist and a member of TIB's Board of Trustees Abul Momen said, "For a long time, we have not been differentiating between truths and falsehoods in our day-to-day lives. The teachings, which should come from families and educational institutions, are no longer there."

"For such reasons, we are straying from the path of humanity. This issue is a contributing factor behind crimes such as rape, scams and corruption," he added.

He continued, "Using the democratic process, those involved in corruption are also entering the parliament. The filtering process is not working. We are all nurturing corruption. We are losing the practice of fine arts, and this is why sculptures are in trouble."

Sharier Khan, cartoonist and executive editor of English-language daily The Business Standard, said, "Participation in this competition is increasing every year. Some of the participants drawing good cartoons at the competition are also taking it up as a profession or joining the media."

"But some are also changing their profession. However, those who are getting an elevated awareness against corruption at a young age, will retain it in their mindset regardless of what they do later," he added.

Sharier Khan added that such enthusiasm against corruption must be spread further among the youth.

Cartoonist Shishir Bhattacharjee, who is also a professor at the Department of Drawing and Painting under Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art, said, "When writing about a serious topic, many people might not fully understand what is being conveyed, even if the write-up is extensive.

"But, when the same topic is conveyed through a cartoon, everyone understands it. Cartooning, as a medium, is very important," he added.

He continued, "No one can teach patriotism to another person. Cartoons are a crucial weapon against those who want to tarnish the image of a golden Bangladesh."