CPRD–TCW Reporting Fellowship 2024
Empowering Journalists to Tell the True Climate Story.
Launched in 2024, the CPRD–TCW Reporting Fellowship is an annual initiative jointly organised by the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) and The Climate Watch (TCW) to strengthen climate and environmental journalism in Bangladesh.
Each year, the fellowship supports selected journalists through reporting grants, specialised training, professional mentorship and editorial guidance to produce in-depth, evidence-based stories on pressing climate and environmental issues.
The programme focuses on climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, biodiversity, renewable energy, just transition and community resilience. It equips journalists with practical reporting skills, research techniques and expert insights to investigate complex environmental challenges.
By supporting independent journalism and amplifying the voices of vulnerable and marginalised communities, the fellowship connects local climate realities with national and international policy discussions. Since its inception, the initiative has aimed to build a skilled network of environmental journalists and promote impactful, solutions-oriented climate reporting across Bangladesh.
Fellows 2024
Md. Borhanul Ashekin
Md. Borhanul Ashekin, Senior Reporter of a 24-hour news channel named Channel 24. Previously, he had worked with Somoy TV and a daily newspaper named Kaler Kantho. His reporting areas are health, climate change and environment. He received fellowships from WaterAid, ICDDR, B, and EJN.
Md Faruk Hassain
Md Faruk Hassain is a journalist and media researcher currently working at Kaler Kantho. He has experience reporting for Dhaka Tribune, Desh Rupantor and Jagonews and has contributed features to bdnews24.com. He holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in Journalism and Media Studies from Jahangirnagar University. His work spans various topics, including climate change, agriculture, health and education.
Ibrahim Khalilullah
Ibrahim Khalilullah is an investigative journalist based in Dhaka, specializing in climate and environmental reporting. Currently a Climate Storyteller at CNN Academy. Ibrahim’s work focuses on climate change, biodiversity, human rights, and countering disinformation. His investigative expertise earned him recognition as one of the 10 finalists for the 2021 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award. A member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, Ibrahim is also a fellow of the Internews Earth Journalism Network. Recognized globally, he became a “Nuffic Scholar” through a prestigious Netherlands government scholarship, undertaking training on digital media at RNTC, RNW Media in 2023. Ibrahim’s impactful reporting also earned him the GIJN Conference Fellowship 2021, the WaterAid Media Fellowship Award in 2021, and the ICDDRB-USAID Media fellowship in 2022. He is an active member of Clean Energy Wire and a Journalism mentor of IRE (Investigative Reporters & Editors).
Marzia Hashmi Momo
Marzia Hashmi Momo is a Bangladeshi environmental journalist. She has crafted investigative reports on the psychological trauma of climate migrants, especially children, and the effects of the climate crisis on women's reproductive health, and climate impacts on coastal areas; how the climate crisis is affecting millions of children's nutrition and education; river erosion and river grabbing; air pollution and how it hampers public health; the potential of the blue economy in Bangladesh. Ms. Marzia loves to call herself an advocate for preserving the environment.
Sabrina Yesmin
Sabrina Yesmin is a freelance journalist specializing in photo and mobile journalism. She likes to portray herself as a storyteller with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry and an academic background in journalism and mass communications. In her recent stint, She worked as a Press Photojournalist for BenarNews (A sister concern of USA-based Radio Free Asia) and she had the opportunity to sharpen her skills in leading national media houses, including the Daily Prothom Alo and Dhaka Tribune. Her work has also been featured in international publications and She have been featured as an emerging photojournalist at The Daily Star. Throughout her career, she felt compelled to deliver impactful stories that resonate with diverse audiences and bring positive changes in people’s lives. She also feels privileged to be a recipient of ‘The DW Akademie Women Journalists Mentorship Program.’
Salauddin Ahmed Reza
Salauddin Ahmed Reza, known as Ahmed Reza is a prominent, award winning broadcast journalist and storyteller hailing from Bangladesh. With a career spanning over ten years, Ahmed has garnered accolades for his exceptional contribution in the realms of political reporting, diplomatic coverage, defense analysis, Climate diplomacy and digital media. Ahmed’s expertise extends across multiple media platforms, including radio, television, and social media. His global reporting experience includes coverage of the UN climate conference and UN peacekeeping activities. Ahmed Reza was honored as one of the “100 Youth Delegates” representing his country during a transformative exploration of India. Recently, he was selected as a Global Alumni of Countering Misinformation & Disinformation by the US State Department. Ahmed Reza has received multiple awards for his journalism, including the 2018 Meena Media Award from UNICEF, The BRAC Migration Media Award in 2019 & 2020, 2022 and the AMCHAM Frontline Journalism Award 2020. Ahmed firmly believes that journalism is grounded in common sense, driving his commitment to meaningful storytelling and societal impact.
Shariful Rukon
Shariful Rukon (Shariful Islam) is an investigative journalist from Chattogram, Bangladesh, with over a decade of experience in exposing corruption and malpractice. His journalism journey began in 2013 as Chief Reporter for Kishorkal, a youth-focused publication in Chattogram. Since then, he has contributed to leading media platforms such as Banglamail24.com, The Daily Alokito Bangladesh, and The Daily Protidiner Sangbad. He worked as Chief Reporter at ekusheypatrika.com, Shariful’s work continues to uncover crucial societal issues, pushing for accountability and transparency in various sectors. Recognized with prestigious awards, including the Investigative Journalism Award (2023) and fellowships from Transparency International Bangladesh and the Earth Journalism Network.
Sarwar Kamal
Sarwar Kamal is an experienced journalist and academic from Chattogram, Bangladesh, with over nine years of professional experience. Since 2015, he has worked with notable media including New Age, banglanews24.com where he covered different issues on environment, climate change, business, crime, politics, health, education, culture, Rohingya crisis, gender, corruption based in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Chattogram Hill Tracts (Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari). He is a faculty member in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at BGC Trust University Bangladesh and a freelance journalist. Sarwar Kamal holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Broadcast and Print Journalism from Port City International University and has completed specialized training in media literacy, climate reporting, renewable energy, investigative reporting, data journalism, fact-checking, disaster journalism and cybersecurity. He is also the elected Press and Publication Secretary for the Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ), where he represents and advocates for local media professionals.
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon is a Bangladeshi independent journalist and film producer specialising in armed conflict, human rights, climate change and humanitarian crises. His reporting focuses on Myanmar’s Rakhine conflict, the Rohingya refugee crisis, cross-border security and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. His work has appeared in major international media outlets, including AFP, CNN, ABC, The Economist, BBC, Al Jazeera and The New Humanitarian. Through investigative reporting, field journalism and documentary production, he highlights underreported stories of forced displacement, ethnic conflict, political instability and environmental vulnerability, bringing the experiences of conflict-affected communities to international audiences.
