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Bangladesh Pratidin, the country’s highest circulated Bangla daily, celebrated its 14th founding anniversary at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital on Sunday.
Bashundhara Group Vice-Chairman Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir and Director Ahmed Ibrahim Sobhan received greetings from the well-wishers.
Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam and Kaler Kantho Editor-in-Chief Imdadul Haq Milan welcomed the guests at the gala function.
Besides the Dhaka head office, the founding anniversary of the leading daily was celebrated in all cities, districts and upazilas.
Sunday’s programme was celebrated by sharing greetings with the well-wishers of the newspaper.
The country’s renowned personalities and celebrities from political, social, cultural, education, and sports fields thronged at the gala programme. In their speeches, guests said Bangladesh Pratidin has gained huge popularity for its neutral position and pro-people voice.
They also hoped that Bangladesh Pratidin would continue the trend of success by responsible journalism.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir inaugurated the anniversary programme cutting a cake along with guests at the daily’s headquarters at Bashundhara Residential Area.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat attended the event as the guest of honour, while Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam moderated the programme.
Bashundhara Group Director Ahmed Ibrahim Sobhan and ABG Limited Director Mostafa Azad Mohiuddin were also present on the occasion as guests.
Addressing the programme, Mohammad Ali Arafat said Bangladesh Pratidin has kept the highest circulated position over the years.
“After assuming the office, my first initiative was to identify the ‘actual circulation’ of newspapers. In terms of circulation, Bangladesh Pratidin has been the highest circulated daily soon after its inception. I hope this daily will keep efforts in trend-setting journalism in the future,” he added.
The state minister also appreciated the role of Bashundhara Group and Editor Naem Nizam in keeping Bangladesh Pratidin ahead in the race for the country’s mainstream media industry.
Speaking at the event, Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir termed the anniversary programme of the Bangladesh Pratidin as an annual occasion for him to celebrate.
The newspaper industry has been struggling for years due to several challenges including high dollar rates, he said.
He also sought government policy support to overcome the challenges of the newspaper industry.
The daily’s Editor Naem Nizam flashed back to the early days of Bangladesh Pratidin as an initiative of the Bashundhara Group to develop a newspaper for commoners.
Ventured by Bashundhara Group, the newspaper has been in broadsheet publication since 15 March 2010.
“We had taken the decision to publish the newspaper overnight. It’s almost 14 years since I met with Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir to run the daily newspaper,” he recalled.
BNP Organising Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, former state minister for education Ehsanul Haque Milan, Awami League’s Organising Secretary SM Kamal, and lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Daily Sun Editor-in-chief Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, Kaler Kantho Editor-in-chief Imdadul Haq Milan, Daily Sun Editor Rezaul Karim Lotus, and News24 Executive Editor Rahul Raha were also present on the occasion.
bd-pratidin/GR
