Infectious enthusiasm of children journalists in Chittagong

Ayesha Siddiqua learns of many things every day. From now on, she will be able to let others know as well because she has been selected as a child journalist.

That makes her excited.

Child journalists like Siddiqua selected by Hello, a bdnews24.com news portal operated by trained children, thronged Theatre Institute at Chittagong on Sunday to join a function.

Guardians of the child journalists are equally enthusiastic to see their wards about to debut in journalism.

The gathering of the young journalists and their guardians began at 5pm with the slogan ‘My words will go far’. The event ended with a cultural programme.

Siddiqua, a seventh-grader at Dr Khastagir Girls High School in Chittagong, said: “Every day I come to know many things. Now I want to inform others about them.”

She wants to contribute to building a better Bangladesh m.by ‘focusing on the things happening around’.

Siddiqua, who writes in her school magazine, expects her experience will help her in the profession. She wishes to write news, stories and other things besides studying.

Sixth-grader Syeda Humaira Islam cannot believe that she, too, has been selected as a journalist. She also wishes to contribute to nation-building through journalism.

Humaira’s guardian Syed Atiqur Rahman praised the bdnews24.com initiative.

“This initiative of bdnews4.com is excellent. We’re encouraging children (to join the bdnews24.com efforts). We hope this organisation will continue its role and do it in a broader arena,” he said.

Chittagong Collegiate High School student Yusuf Munna has already received training from bdnews24.com.

“My parents have asked me to do something beyond study. Now Hello will open up my mind’s window,” he said.

Arpita Barua, who could not qualify in the scrutiny, also came to the event along with her parents.

“She said I’ll continue writing. I’ll keep contact with Hello,” she said.

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Chittagong Mayor M Monzur Alam, Wasika Ayesha Khan MP, Chittagong Metropolitan Police’s acting Commissioner Banaj Kumar Majumder, Bawa School and College Principal Anwara Begum, and bdnews24.com News Editor Gazi Nasir Uddin Ahmed and Senior Correspondent Moinul Hoque Chowdhury were also present at the function.

Artistes of cultural organisations Khelaghor and Bodhon performed at the event.

Child journalist gatherings are being held in 23 districts through selection by Hello. Grameenphone is the partner of the bdnews24.com initiative.

Forty students of different institutions in Chittagong have been selected as child journalists, who will be trained by bdnews24.com journalists.

Hello, the first Bangla news portal operated by children, was launched in Mar 31 last year.

Over 5,000 children are involved in the portal.