Star wins global award for July uprising report

The Daily Star has won the WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards 2026 for its investigative video documentary, “Anatomy of BGB Shootings in Rampura”, in the “Best Use of Video” category.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) announced the global winners yesterday at the 77th World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, recognising digital news publishers and innovators across 12 categories.

This year’s awards attracted 811 entries from news organisations from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and South Asia.

“Anatomy of BGB Shootings in Rampura” is a joint investigation by The Daily Star and Tech Global Institute, which provided forensic video analysis. The investigation documents how Rampura, a neighbourhood in Dhaka, became a hotspot of state-sanctioned killings during the 2024 July uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina.

The documentary was directed by Naimur Rahman, a producer at The Daily Star. Field reporting was done by Mashfiq Mizan, now with Netra News, and Naimur Rahman.

Published on August 6, 2025, the investigation pieced together the events of a single day -- July 19, 2024 -- by analysing more than 200 photos and videos captured in Rampura area. It uses digital pattern analysis of clothing, facial recognition, weapon identification, and chronolocation techniques to map the movements of state forces.

“What stands out in this year’s finalists is their willingness to push boundaries without losing sight of what matters most: earning and sustaining audience trust,” said WAN-IFRA Chief Executive Officer Stig Ørskov in a statement.

Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network and a member of the awards jury, said, “Trust in verified, vetted information is more important than ever in an age of widespread deepfakes and persistent conspiracy theories. That’s why the finalists and winners of the awards this year impressed me so much with their carefully presented reporting, data, and innovative formats.”

Earlier on April 29, The Daily Star won two prestigious honours -- a gold and a silver -- at the South Asian Digital Media Awards 2026, cementing its position among the region’s most forward-thinking news organisations.

The gold award went to the same investigative documentary, “Anatomy of BGB Shootings in Rampura”, in the “Best Use of Video” category for its powerful visual storytelling. The silver was awarded to Keeron, The Daily Star’s edtech and upskilling platform, in the “Most Innovative Digital Product” category.

These awards will be formally presented to the investigation team and the Keeron team at the South Asia Awards Ceremony on June 25 in New Delhi.