The investigative report “Jashore A City of Mini Medical Colleges: Fake Certificates Producing Doctors and Nurses” has won the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Investigative Journalism Award 2025 in the Local Newspaper Category. The award was achieved by Gramer Kagoj Senior Reporter Foysal Islam and Staff Reporter Ashiqur Rahman Shimul, whose exceptional work brought national attention to a critical public-health concern in Jashore.
Under the financial support of the European Union and the supervision of Free Press Unlimited and ARTICLE 19, the South Asia Centre for Media in Development (SACMID), in partnership with Gramer Kagoj, has been implementing the 2024 project “Connecting Community, Strengthening Voices through CSO–Media Alliance in Jashore District.” As part of this initiative, SACMID introduced a structured fellowship program through which five journalist teams conducted in-depth investigations on key local issues. This is one of the Investigative Reports among the five commissioned.
SACMID played a central role in the success of the award-winning report. Veteran journalist Zulfikar Ali Manik and SACMID’s project team served as dedicated mentors throughout the entire process, providing continuous editorial guidance, technical support, and quality oversight. Their committed efforts ensured that the investigation adhered to strong ethical standards and delivered impactful, evidence-based journalism.
To further highlight the depth of these investigations, a compilation book featuring all five fellowship reports has been published, titled “Marginalized People and Their Lived Realities in Investigative Journalism.” This publication stands as a testament to SACMID’s sustained commitment to strengthening investigative reporting and amplifying marginalized voices in Jashore.
