Dhaka North honours 8 individuals, organisations for contributions to urban development
The award ceremony was attended by Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) today (11 January) conferred the Citizen Award 2025 on eight individuals and organisations in recognition of their contributions to urban development, environmental protection, social services and public awareness.
The award ceremony was attended by Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Noted writer and intellectual Professor Salimullah Khan, Secretary of the Local Government Division Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Mahmudul Hasan, senior government officials and representatives of civil society were also present.
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The programme was chaired by DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz. Speaking at the event, Mohammad Azaz said the Citizen Award was introduced to institutionalise civic recognition and encourage citizen-led initiatives to address the city's growing challenges.
In the Innovator/Startup category, Abdur Rashid Sohag, founder and chief executive officer of Pupil School Bus Ltd., received the award for introducing Bangladesh's first integrated, technology-driven school transport platform.
The service provides GPS-enabled, secure and child-friendly transport to more than 7,000 students from over 45 educational institutions in Dhaka and Chattogram, contributing to improved road safety, reduced traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions.
The Individual Initiative award went to Sruti Rani Day for her grassroots work in environmental protection, cleanliness campaigns, plastic awareness, humanitarian assistance and child rights advocacy, including efforts to prevent child marriage and support underprivileged families.
In the Social Media Content Creation category, Uplift Bangladesh was recognised for highlighting urban transformation, infrastructure development and positive change across DNCC areas through responsible, development-oriented digital content.
Bhashantek School and College received the award in the Environment-Friendly Educational Institution category for its long-standing commitment to environmental awareness and student-led green initiatives.
The Social Organisation category honoured Uttara Public Library for promoting reading habits, cultural activities and social values within the community. In the Animal Welfare and Rights category, People for Animal Welfare Foundation (PAWF) was awarded for its sustained work in rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals and raising awareness against animal cruelty.
The Advocacy category award was presented to Hawa Begum for amplifying the voices of urban marginalised communities, particularly slum dwellers, on issues related to health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and the rights of women and children.
Finally, the Highest Taxpayer award was given to the Bangladesh Water Development Board for paying Tk3.89 crore in taxes in the last fiscal year, acknowledging its contribution to urban development and civic services through state revenue.
