Sharif Khiam Ahmed

I went through one of the toughest times in my journalism career from July 15 to August 5, 2024. Being able to report on the mass uprising against the dictatorship, which began with a nonviolent student demonstration, was undoubtedly an unforgettable experience. We closely observed how the violent actions taken by the overthrown Awami League government to suppress the student movement led to the complete collapse of the party. Throughout this period, I was mostly accompanied by my senior colleague, Kamran Reza Chowdhury, whom I considered a brother-in-arms. We traveled mostly on his yellow Vespa. After Sheikh Hasina's escape, when people rushed to her residence, Ganobhaban, we both left this Vespa at the gate and entered. After roughly two hours, we attempted to depart, but the Vespa was nowhere. But Kamran Bhai has no regrets about losing the Vespa, as he was so excited to be a part of this historic event. He was only stating what we had seen! We should also document these stories...

Memories of Home , our visual story series on Myanmar memories of the Rohingya living in Bangladesh, won the Telly Award in three categories in the US in May last year. The two trophies for the award came from New York to Washington DC, and finally to Bangladesh. Coincidentally, I received the Edward R. Murrow Award trophy from FedEx on the same date in 2022.  Finding this on Facebook Memory surprised me. But as I took the trophy this time from Emma Say, Head of Video at BenarNews, accepting the honor was much more meaningful for me. A delight also comes from being awarded along with Abdur Rahman . As a local journalist from any place outside of the capital succeeds, I feel thrilled. That's where I began my journalism career as well. As I mentioned earlier, " Memories of Home " was a life-changing event for me as a journalist. I've never had to spend as much time in the field and at the table while producing a series.  Many thanks to Kate Beddall, my managing editor...

Photo: Abdur Rahman Humanity is going through an enigmatic time right now, as it does at every turn. In December 2023, from Bangladesh, I saw that many poets, painters, singers, authors, and filmmakers have already become digital content creators, either because of various trappings of capitalism or due to technological blessings. This medialization has made every attempt to commercialize any artistic efforts. And contemporary journalists have gradually turned into viralists. In a nutshell, "journalism" in the present era is greatly influenced by "viralism." Has our media literacy or common sense evolved as tools like social media and smartphones have developed?

I'm in my 20th year in journalism. As a professional journalist, I still need to learn something new to survive, even after 19 years. Analyzing myself, this is the fundamental reason I am still attracted to journalism. Learning anything new is always a challenge that I relish. Thus, my journalism has had the most impact on who I am. Consequently, I want to carry out two initiatives to mark this 20th year. 1. I'll draft a manuscript titled "The Sequences of Various Thoughts." I want to portray the tale of a local newspaper reporter's journey to become an international media journalist and the evolution of his diverse viewpoints. 2. I want to do "visual interviews" with some of the people who have taught me a lot or from whom I need to learn a lot as a journalist. They are mostly journalists. I'll also chat about mass communication with other pros. I posted these ideas on my blog and personal Facebook timeline to inspire myself. But, my friends, if you...

Sharif Khiam and Abdur Rahman | 2018 Every dedicated reporter working outside of the capital deserves my respect. Because they each perform like a one-man army. As a correspondent of one or more Dhaka -based media outlets, they always cover a wide range of topics, including politics, crime, courts, sports, and entertainment. However, they never get enough acknowledgement from their offices. As I began my reporting career in a divisional town in South Bengal, I was typically aware of this exploitation of Dhaka. Even now, the situation hasn't improved significantly. This is fortunate for Bangladeshi journalism since remote reporters are constantly motivated by their own interests. Abdur Rahman is one of my top three beloved journalists covering the countryside. He is my favourite tour guide in Rohingya -populated regions. Having him as a brother-in-arms boosts my productivity. Sharif Khiam  and  Abdur Rahman  | 2021

Jibon Ahmed | 21 February 2022 | Photo: Sharif Khiam   Jibon Ahmed is not just one of my beloved photojournalists , but also one of my personal heroes. I've always been overjoyed with his success. He became a part of another history as one of the first Bangladesh Press Photography Award winners. I'm confident he'll achieve more institutional recognition in the future. Because he believes that being a happy person is more important than being a good photographer. Jibon was fired from his job in 2018 as he published public kiss scenes on social media . This well-known photojournalist became unemployed after being vindicated by the Bengali Online News Portal " purboposhchimbd ." Yet, at the time, the portal's editor, Khujista Nur-e-Naharin Munni , told me, "The final decision has not been taken in this regard yet." Previously, during the attack on writer and blogger Abhijit Roy in 2015, Jibon had photographed the scene. He was the one to take Aviji...