Demanding transparency and accountability through Anti-corruption Cartoons and Photographs

Throughout the world, 9 December is celebrated as International Anti-Corruption Day. As part of this celebration, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today awarded cartoonists and photographers for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of anti-corruption messages using the creative art forms of cartoons and photos. At the same time, a week-long exhibition comprising 63 cartoons and 23 photographs was also inaugurated today.

In addition to the 10th regular cartoon competition, TI Bangladesh this year also introduced a special cartoon competition on climate finance governance issues and the 1st anti-corruption photo competition. As part of TIB’s anti-corruption social movement, these competitions and exhibitions are aimed at creating greater awareness and motivation among the young generation to SAY NO TO Corruption.

A total 100 cartoonists under two age categories: 13-18 years, and 19-25 years, sent a total of 230 entries for the 10^th competition. In addition, 36 best cartoonists who won in previous cartoon competitions of TIB since 2010, sent 79 entries on Climate Finance Governance issues. On the other hand, 43 professional and amateur photographers sent 109 entries for the 1st anti-corruption photo competition.

The following are the results of these competitions:

Awards for the 10^th Anti-corruption Cartoon Competition 2015

Awards for Cartoon on Climate Finance Governance 2015

1^st Position: Nasreen Sultana Mitu

2^nd Position: Arafat Karim

3^rd Position: Md. Hasan Mahmud

Awards for Anti-corruption Photo Competition 2015

1^st Position: Shafiqul Alam

2^nd Position: Fakhrul Islam

3^rd Position: Pronob Krishno Roy

Apart from the best 9 cartoons and 3 photos which received award money, crest and certificate, photographers and cartoonists selected for recognition as “Special Mention”, also received token cash award and a certificate.

Ms. Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, the Danish Ambassador in Bangladesh and Ms. Karin McDonald, Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation, Swedish Development Cooperation Agency in Bangladesh attended as Guests of Honour during the inauguration of exhibition and distribution of prizes at DRIK Gallery in Dhanmondi in the afternoon today. Advocate Sultana Kamal, Chairperson, Board of Trustees of TIB presided over the event, moderated by TIB's Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman.

Distributing prizes, Ms. Hanne Fugl Eskjaer lauded the courageous role of the cartoonists and photographers in depicting the ills of the society and urged all to collectively raise their voices against the menaces of corruption in Bangladesh.

The exhibition will be open to all from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm from 8-14 December at DRIK Gallery in Dhanmondi.

Cartoonists and photographers in these competitions have emerged as a force not only to increase awareness but also to protest against corruption and various injustices happening in the society. The cartoons and photos displayed in this exhibition are a treasure of information on the nature and impact of corruption in Bangladesh, providing a strong collective voice for change.

It may be mentioned here that since its introduction in 2006, more than two thousand cartoonists, among which more than 500 are female, submitted more than four thousand entries in all these cartoon competitions. TIB has also been organizing mobile cartoon exhibitions in various parts of the country as one of the most attractive and effective tools to spread the anti-corruption messages and create a demand for actions against corruption at the grassroots level.

TIB also used these anti-corruption cartoons in its various field-based civic engagement work in education, health and local government institutions and as IEC materials including the annual calendar, posters and stickers to disseminate anti-corruption messages.

To view cartoons click here and to view photography click here.