On 26 May 2018, the Humanitarian Award Giving Ceremony 2018 was organized by the Bandhu Social Welfare Society (Bandhu) at the Conference room, Spectra Convention Centre, Gulshan, Dhaka. A total of 124 eminent guests representing awarded guests, journalists from different print and
electronic media, community members, NGOs and INGOs, representatives of the Embassy of Sweden, Bangladesh, USAID, Save the Children, Nepal, lawyers, Doctors, Law Enforcement Agencies, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Lecturer and Professor from different educational institutes and ‘Bandhu’ Staff members attended. The objective of the event was to Develop a strong network among the gender-diverse population and different stakeholders in Bangladesh.

Mr. Anisul Islam, Hero, Chairperson of Bandhu Social Welfare Society presided over the event where Mr. Kazi Reazul Hoque, Hon’ble Chairman, National Human Rights Commission Bangladesh participated as chief guest. The event was divided into two parts; one was unveiling the Photo Novella and the other was the giving Ceremony who have contributed unconditionally to the development of gender diverse population in Bangladesh.

“Photo Novella” is a photography art for engaging gender-diverse youth to learn social personal issues and help them for social change. Over the last couple of years there has been growing interest in the use of community-based participatory research (CBPR) for preventing and controlling complex public health problems. Photography Art is one of several qualitative methods utilized in CBPR, as it is a participatory method that has community participants use photography, and stories about their photographs to identify their present scenario important issues. Over the past several years Photography Art methodology has been frequently used to explore community health and social issues. 16 youth participants from a gender-diverse population participated in a photo novella and were awarded as well.

Shale Ahmed, Executive Director, of Bandhu Social Welfare Society mentioned that the Path of Bandhu was not always easy and almost impossible to come this far without the help of its well-wishers from different sectors. Bandhu's family remembers all of his well-wishers who supported him very closely from the very beginning till date. It was very tough for us to select a single person or institute for the award because the list is very big.