Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed the winners of its 19th Anti-Corruption Cartoon Competition today, showcasing creative works by young participants from various age groups aimed at promoting anti-corruption messages.

The announcement was made during a ceremony at TIB's Dhanmondi office, which also marked the opening of a 13-day exhibition and virtual gallery.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman welcomed the distinguished guests and announced the awardees during the event, attended by representatives from various embassies and organizations.

Guests included Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Chargée d’Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh; Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Duncan Overfield, Deputy Development Director at FCDO; Alenay Tansey, Office Director of USAID's Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Office; and Lovisa Hofmann, Head of the Political, Trade, and Communication Section at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh.

The event also saw participation from Ahsan Habib, Cartoonist and Editor of UNMAD, and Mehedi Haque, Senior Cartoonist at The New Age, who served as judges for the competition.

In his speech, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman emphasized the importance of youth activism in fighting corruption. "Preventing corruption requires more than just legal measures; the public must take a stand, and the creative power of youth, through protests and awareness, plays a key role. Cartoons are an essential part of that protest," he said.

Ahsan Habib, one of the judges, highlighted that this year's competition expanded to include comic strips for the first time. Mehedi Haque expressed gratitude for the platform provided by TIB for cartoonists over the past two decades.

Lovisa Hofmann noted that cartoons are a powerful tool in raising societal awareness, especially political cartoons, which are vital for upholding freedom of speech.

"Competitions like these empower youth, giving them the opportunity to contribute to society and the nation," she said.

Alenay Tansey, representing USAID, praised the competition for using humor as a form of protest and for promoting democratic values.

"Bangladesh has a deep-rooted tradition of standing against injustice, and through this initiative, TIB skillfully transforms humor into a powerful visual protest," Tansey said.

Duncan Overfield, Deputy Development Director at FCDO, emphasized the role of youth in driving change, referencing the recent anti-discrimination movements in Bangladesh.

"Youth are key agents of change, and their voices must be heard," he stated.

Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands, urged the younger generation, particularly Gen-Z, to actively contribute to Bangladesh's progress.

Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Chargée d'Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland, highlighted that corruption hinders development, and cartoons play a vital role in combating corruption and promoting free speech.

The competition's winners in the 'A' category (ages 13-18) were Shoyaeb Ahamed (Naogaon Government College) in first place, Mahin Mehjabin Mohar (BIAM Laboratory School and College) in second, and Ahnaf Tahmid (Rangpur Cadet College) in third. In the 'B' category (ages 19-25), Arindom Kudu (Dhaka University) won first place, followed by Asif Mohammad Yousuf (Cumilla Medical College) and Abdullah Al Zunaed (University of Liberal Arts).

TIB introduced two new categories this year: digital cartoons and comic strips for ages 15-25. The winners in these categories were Mong Shonie Rakhaine (Dhaka University) for digital cartoons and Abdullah Al Zunaed (University of Liberal Arts) for comic strips, both receiving Tk 75,000, along with crests and certificates.

A total of 247 cartoons were submitted by 160 artists, and 63 winning works are featured in the exhibition, which is open daily from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm at TIB’s Dhanmondi office (Midas Center, House-05, Road-27) until December 21. A virtual gallery is also available at TIB Cartoon Competition.

This year, TIB marked the 20th anniversary of International Anti-Corruption Day under the theme "New Bangladesh - Invincible Youth Will Stop Corruption."

In addition to the cartoon competition, TIB held an investigative journalist conclave, presented the Anti-Corruption Investigative Journalism Awards, and organized rallies, information fairs, and quiz competitions as part of its observance. TIB's CCC, YES Group, and ACG were actively involved in the events.

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