South Asia Center for Media in Development (SACMID), with funding from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, organized a short film and reel contest on the theme “Women’s Safety in the Digital World” for 2025. An award ceremony and film screening for the winners were held on Wednesday (24 September) at the Conference Room of Khulna University, with a total of 70 participants attending the event.
The event was supported by Khulna University’s Discipline of Mass Communication and Journalism and and co-organized by the Khulna University Journalists Association.
Professor Dr. Md. Nazmus Sadat, Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs at Khulna University, attended as the Chief Guest. Special guests included Mubinul Islam Mubin, Editor and Publisher of Dainik Gramer Kagoj, Staff Reporter Nizam Uddin Shimul, Professor Dr. Md. Ashiqur Rahman, Director of International Affairs at Khulna University, Dr. Sara Monami Hossain, Head of the Mass Communication and Journalism Discipline, Associate Professor Md. Shariful Islam, and Hosne Ara Begum, Executive Director of Community Welfare Foundation.
Professor Dr. Md. Nazmus Sadat stated,“Social media today is a witness to many events, but it is also a medium through which rumors spread, causing social and moral degradation. SACMID’s initiative is indeed a timely step, and we highly appreciate their efforts.”
During the event, the short films created by the participants were screened and received widespread praise from the audience. Following the screening, commemorative crests were handed over to the winners.
Among the participating teams, five were declared winners. Team Shield secured first place, consisting of Ratul Khan, Tania Tabassum, and Md. Abdur Raihan, all third-year students from Khulna University’s Mass Communication and Journalism Discipline.
Second and third places were won by Team Mukto Koro Bhoy from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) and Team Block from Khulna University, respectively.
Ratul Khan, a member of the first-place winning team, said,“In today’s digital era, fake information and rumors are having a devastating impact on society. We must build a culture of fact-checking and encourage young people to create positive content. If students become aware, this will benefit not just families but society as a whole.”
This film screening and award ceremony was part of SACMID’s project “Empowering Media Professionals, Girl Students and Community Women through an Improved Understanding of Digital Threats and Security Measures.” The initiative aims to raise awareness among Bangladeshi youth and women on digital literacy, fact-checking, and cyber safety.
