Bangladesh Pratidin celebrates 6th anniversary

Bangladesh Pratidin, the highest circulated Bangla daily in the country, celebrated the sixth anniversary of its publication on Tuesday amid festivity. Patrons and well-wishers of the daily attended the celebration programme at International Conven-tion City Bashun-dhara (Noborattri Hall) in the capital. They shared the joy of success of the Bangla daily. The presence of a galaxy of personalities, including ministers, politicians, academics, celebrities, businesspersons, members of civil society and media people, adorned the event. They started joining the programme at 11:00am and greeted Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam with bouquets. Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir, vice-chairman of Bashundhara Group, and Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Managing Director of Bashundhara Group, formally inaugurated the daily’s sixth anniversary celebration programme by cutting a giant cake at Bangladesh Pratidin office in Bashundhara residential area on Monday night. The popular daily honoured two eminent writers — Rafiq Azad of Bangladesh and Samaresh Majumdar of West Bengal in India — on the occasion of the 7th year of its publication on Tuesday. Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan handed over the award at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital. As poet Rafiq Azad died on Saturday, his wife Prof Dilara Hafiz received the award on behalf of the poet. However, litterateur Samaresh Majumdar attended the event and received the award. Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir, vice-chairman of Bashundhara Group, and Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, were present at the programme. Commerce Minister and Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AL Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, among others, attended the programme. BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu, BNP leader Joynal Abedin Faruk and former Vice-chairman of BNP Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury also joined the colourful event. Besides, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman and also Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s special envoy HM Ershad, former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader, JP Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader and Jatiya Party presidium member Kazi Firoz Rashid attended the celebration programme. Beximco Group Vice-Chairman Salman F Rahman, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) ex-president Md Atiqul Islam, Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) former chairman Professor AK Azad Chowdhury, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq, among others, also greeted ‘Bangladesh Pratidin family’ on the occasion. Moreover, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed also greeted the daily. Editor of daily sun MD Jamilur Rahman, Kaler Kantho Editor Imdadul Haq Milan, Editor-in-Chief of Banglanews24.com Alamgir Hossain and Publisher of Kaler Kantho, Daily Sun and Bangladesh Pratidin Maynal Hossain Chowdhury were also present at the event. To mark the occasion, East West Media building has been decorated colourfully along with installing lighting system. Bangladesh Pratidin started its journey on March 15, 2010 with a slogan of Amra Jonogoner Pokkhe (We are in favour of the people) and eventually earned a huge popularity among the readers at home and abroad.