Dignitaries join celebrations

Dignitaries listening to the speeches at Bangla daily Prothom Alo's 16th anniversary celebrations at Sonargaon Hotel yesterday. Photo: Star

As part of its 16th founding anniversary celebrations, the Prothom Alo held a get-together for eminent personalities at the capital's Sonargaon Hotel yesterday.

The simple gathering was attended by intellectuals, politicians, government officials, cultural and sports personalities and foreign guests.

In the evening, Prothom Alo Associate Editor Anisul Hoque greeted the guests and expressed the newspaper's resolution to march ahead without fear.

Later, the crowd sang patriotic songs with a chorus led by singer Bappa Majumdar.

Taking to the podium, Trasncom Group Chairman Latifur Rahman thanked all for joining the gathering.

He said a daily newspaper had to face a test from its readers every morning. "The readers want to see truth in the newspaper. If they don't get it, they get disheartened, lose faith in the daily."

As the Prothom Alo has remained truthful for the last 16 years, it has earned the readers' trust and love, he said.

Latifur Rahman greeted the readers, writers, advertisers, well-wishers, and the staff on the occasion.

Matiur Rahman, editor of the daily, said independence, fairness, objectivity and faith in the spirit of the Liberation War were the strengths of his newspaper.

He said Prothom Alo, the country's largest circulating Bangla daily, was read online in 210 countries, while its print readership exceeded 60 lakh. The editor introduced the 19 foreign guests from India, Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt at the gathering.

Of them were Indian journalists Kuldip Nayar, MJ Akbar, Pakistan's Hamid Mir, Egypt's Al-Ahram editor Kamal Ali Gabala.

Educationists Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, economist Prof Rehman Sobhan, jurists Dr Kamal Hossain, Amir-ul-Islam, rights activists Hameeda Hossain, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Shaheen Anam, Supreme Bar Association President Khandker Mahbub Hossain, and The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, among others, joined the function.

Of the foreign diplomats were US Ambassador Dan W Mozena, former high commissioners of India Muchkund Dubey, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Veena Sikri, Deb Mukherjee, Rajit Mittar, and IS Chadha.

Deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Mia, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, and Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal also attended the party.

Among other politicians were BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Communist Party President Mujahidul Islam Selim.