Celebrating Dhaka's everyday heroes: Dhaka North's new Citizen Award

Dhaka North City Corporation is preparing to introduce a new "Citizen Award" programme to honour individuals and organisations that make significant contributions to urban development and civic life.

The first award ceremony is planned for next month, with an estimated budget of Tk20 lakh allocated for logistics, publicity, medals, prize money, and event management.

Unlike traditional annual awards, the Citizen Award will be presented quarterly or biannually. Each round will recognise up to 30 recipients, bringing the annual total to 60 to 120.

Awards will be distributed across six "impact segments" that mirror the city's biggest sustainability challenges. These are: Individual Heroes, Community Changemakers, Eco-Schools and Campuses, Green Business Champions, Awareness Amplifiers, and Smart City Innovators.

Dhaka North officials say the staggered schedule is meant to keep volunteer energy high all year long and allow rapid recognition of seasonal initiatives, such as monsoon tree plantation or winter blanket drives, before momentum fades.

Dhaka North City Administrator Mohammad Azaz told The Business Standard, "Over time, a strained relationship had developed between the city corporation and its citizens regarding the delivery and reception of civic services." 

Building on the goal to help mend the relationship, he further stated, "We aim to honour individuals and institutions who contribute meaningfully to the city. These contributors will not only be recognised but also gradually engaged in the city corporation's decision-making processes."

Who will receive this Award?

Any citizen, child, or senior, male, or female, can be nominated under the Individual Heroes category. The people who work on solo tree-planting, street or park or canal clean-ups, animal welfare, waste-segregation awareness.  

Organisations from local youth clubs to national NGOs fall under Community Changemakers. Neighbourhood groups restoring canals, conducting door-to-door recycling drives, hosting climate workshops.

For the Eco-Schools and Campuses category schools, colleges and universities can jointly apply. Student-led recycling projects, green clubs, inclusive service programme organisers can apply for this as well. 

Green Business Champions select from small firms using eco-friendly packaging, investing part of profits in social causes, recycle product users and others.

The Awareness Amplifiers will select from Journalists, YouTubers or bloggers producing investigative or instructional content on pollution, encroachment, social justice. 

Smart City Innovators count from technologists behind smart waste bins, water-saving devices, traffic-safety apps and others.

Under the slogan "My City, My Responsibility," Dhaka North will open nominations shortly before each quarterly ceremony via its website and social media. Candidates, peers, or institutions can submit entries, which must include a project description, supporting photos or videos, at least one endorsement letter, and relevant impact data.

A five-member scrutiny committee from Dhaka North's key departments: waste management, environment, drainage, slum development, public relations, and ICT will first review applications. Shortlisted entries will then be evaluated by a five-person jury panel appointed annually by the Administrator or Mayor.

Each awardee will receive a cash prize, medal, certificate, and commemorative crest.

Experts applaud initiative, emphasise importance of transparency

President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Adil Mohammed Khan, told The Business Standard, "City corporations were established to foster engagement between citizens and their elected representatives. Unfortunately, over the past several years, that connection has not been meaningfully cultivated." 

Praising Dhaka North's initiative to recognise citizens' contribution he added that, "it is crucial to maintain transparency and consistency in such initiatives, while also ensuring inclusive participation from all segments of urban society."