Seven journalism students in Bangladesh receive Ali Riaz research awards

Seven master’s students in Bangladesh received the Ali Riaz Postgraduate Research Award and Scholarship at the University of Dhaka.

The university’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism organized the ceremony, where students received research awards and scholarship checks.

Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor at Illinois State University, urged students to practice free thinking, question authority, and respect differing opinions.

“Your reasoning must be sharp, but it should not turn into a sword,” he said.

Riaz said democratic transition requires citizens’ rights and accountable, independent institutions, extending beyond elections.

University vice-chancellor ABM Obaidul Islam emphasized alumni support for research and education, saying financial constraints limit initiatives.

He called for stronger endowment funds and increases in award amounts over time, noting that inflation reduces trust funds’ real value and makes scholarship levels harder to sustain.