Bangladesh Pratidin steps into 9th year

Bangladesh Pratidin, the highest circulated Bangla newspaper of the country, steps into the ninth year of its journey on Thursday.

The broadsheet started its journey on March 15 in 2010 as a venture of East West Media Group Limited, owned by Bashundhara Group, one of the leading business conglomerates in the country.

Bangladesh Pratidin began the anniversary programmes on Wednesday night by lighting candles to pay respect to the victims of the US-Bangla Airlines plane crash in Nepal on Monday.

The newspaper refrained from cutting anniversary cake as part of mourning the death of over 50 people in the worst-ever accident involving Bangladeshi aircraft.

Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir inaugurated the anniversary programmes while Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam moderated the event.

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon, Kaler Kantho Editor Imdadul Haq Milon, Daily Sun Editor Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, publisher of the three newspapers Maynal Hossain Chowdhury, Awami League central leader Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim, BNP Organisational Secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, Kaler Kantha Executive Editor Mostofa Kamal, Daily Sun Executive Editor Shiabur Rahman (Shihab) and News24 Executive Director Hasnain Khurshid, among others, were present on the occasion.

The guests and participants observed one-minute silence in remembrance of the plane crash victims.

Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan, who is also the managing director of EWMGL, appreciated the Bangladesh Pratidin team for making the broadsheet country’s largest newspaper in terms of circulation.

He announced that Bashundhara Group would continue its support to the media for infinite period.

Mayor Sayeed Khokon said Bangladesh Pratidin has attained exemplary success by reaching all classes of readers.

Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam informed the guests that the newspaper would start a new journey through its publishing abroad to cater to the demand from expatriate Bangladeshis.

“We’ll start publishing of Bangladesh Pratidin from New York on March 26 (this year). In this month of independence, it will add yet another feather to the success of the daily, which is now the second largest Bangla newspaper globally.

We have a plan to publish it from the United Kingdom and Middle East region,” he said.

Daily Sun Editor Enamul Hoque Chowdhury attributed the success of the newspaper to the efforts and sincerity of its journalists and employees.

He expressed the hope that Bangladesh Pratidin will overtake Ananda Bazar in circulation very soon.

“The daily will become top Bangla newspaper globally within the next two years,” he said.

Bangladesh Pratidin Joint Editor Abu Taher, Deputy Editor Mahmud Hasan, Chief News Editor Mashuk Chowdhury, Commercial Adviser Kamrul Haque Shamim, Advertisement department General Manager Masudur Rahman, Circulation department General Manager Billah Hossain Montu, News Editors Kamal Mahmud and Lutfor Rahman Himel were present.

Bangladesh Pratidin authorities have cancelled all the celebrations.

Instead, they will organise special prayers seeking divine blessings for the departed souls of the plane crash victims on Friday across the country.

SOURCE : কালের কণ্ঠ