Prothom Alo

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Front page of Prothom Alo on 27 September 2007
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Owner Transcom Group
Publisher Mahfuz Anam
Editor Matiur Rahman
Founded 4 November 1998
Language Bengali
Price Taka 8
Headquarters CA Bhaban
100 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue
Karwan Bazar
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Circulation 350,000 (at January 2007)[1]
Website: www.prothom-alo.com

Prothom Alo (Bengali: প্রথম আলো Prothom Alo "First Light") is a major daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language.

Contents

[edit] History

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Prothom Alo was founded on 4 November 1998. As at January 2007, it had an average circulation of 350,000.[1] It has distinguished itself by its investigations of acid attacks and violence against women, pushing for tougher laws against the sale of acid, and for being the first Bangladeshi newspaper to report on the training of militants at Islamic schools (or madrasas).[2] Prothom Alo helped to popularise Mathematics in Bangladesh. It organized Mathematics Olympiad for the first time in Bangladesh in 2003. It is one of the main sponsors and the main organizer of Bangladesh Mathematics Olympiad.[3]

[edit] Supplements

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.
  • ছুটির দিনে Chuṭir dine ("On the day off") - Saturday featured supplement, covering important and successful stories of Bangladesh in their cover story every week. A section called "special essay" covers interesting news of famous journals of outside world. কার্যকারণ Karjokaron ("Causal relation") is the section where scientific explanation of various activities are described. ঘর মন জানালা Ghor mon janala is the place for readers to share personal experience about different aspects of their life. Mehtab Khanom, a professor of Psychology from Dhaka University runs the section মনের জানালা Moner janala ("Window of the mind") to provide tips for various psychological situations given by the audience. Musician Kausar Ahmed Chowdhury regularly contributes আপনার রাশি Apnar rashi ("Your sign of the zodiac") for explaining fortunes of the readers in satirical way.,[4] It also circulates regular quiz competition for the audience.
  • স্টেডিয়াম Sṭeḍiam ("Stadium") - Sunday supplement on sports
  • বিজ্ঞান প্রজন্ম Biggên projonmo ("Science generation") - Sunday supplement on science
  • রসালো Rôshalo ("Juicy") - Monday entertainment magazine
  • নকশা Nôksha ("Sketch") - Tuesday supplement
  • স্বাস্থ্য কুশল Shastho kushôl ("Health and well-being") - Wednesday supplement on health
  • আনন্দ Anondo ("Happiness") - Thursday supplement
  • অন্য আলো Onno alo ("Other light") - Friday supplement
  • প্রজন্ম ডট কম Projonmo ḍôṭ kôm ("Generation dot com") - Friday supplement on information technology

Prothom Alo publishes a special edition every year at Eid ul-Fitr. This feature, called প্রথম আলো ঈদ সংখ্যা Prothom Alo Id Shônkha (Prothom Alo Eid edition"), includes fictions, historical articles and photos.[5] It costs 100 Taka.

[edit] Editors

Matiur Rahman is the current and the first editor of the newspaper. He received the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 2005[6]

He is regarded as one of the most influential and secular journalists in Bangladesh, with a profound background in media, journalism and human development activities

[edit] Regular columnists

Famous columnists regularly authors columns for Prothom Alo. Popular writer and columnist Muhammad Zafar Iqbal regularly contributes under his famous column "Shadashidhay Kotha". Another eminent writer and co-editor of Prothom Alo Anisul Hoque regularly contribute in his satirical column "GodyoCartoon". Other regular columnists include ABM Musa, Abul Momen, Muntasir Mamun, Abul Hayat, Mamunur Rashid Abu Ahmed etc. . Educationist Mohammad Kaykobad and Psychiatrist Mehtab Khanam regularly covers their professional fields.

[edit] Threats

Prothom Alo faced various protests by Islamic organizations and fundamentalists. A threat was given after Prothom Alo opposed unregistered religious institution called Kowmi Madrassa and accused them for organizing crimes and provide combat training to their students.[citation needed] Religious leaders urged to stop circulation in Chittagong as well.[citation needed] A similar protests and demand for banning the paper again came from them after a cartoon about the Islamic prophet Muhammad was published in Alpin. A subsequent order was given from the government to ban the supplement for an indefinite period of time.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Published rates. Prothom Alo.
  2. ^ Prothom Alo Editor Gets Magsaysay Award. Voice of America. 2005-08-01.
  3. ^ Bangladesh IMO team 2007. Bangladesh Mathematics Olympiad Committee. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
  4. ^ "পাহাড়ে বিভীষিকা", Chutir Dine, Prothom Alo, 2007-06-16, pp. 3-16. 
  5. ^ Waheed, Karim (2006-10-20), “Readers' delight: Special publications on Eid”, The Daily Star, <http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/20/d610201401108.htm> 
  6. ^ WHEN MEDIA TAKES A STAND FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: THE EXPEERIENCE OF PROTHOM ALO IN BANGLADESH. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. 2005-09-02.
  7. ^ "Prothom Alo ordered to suspend 'Alpin' publication", The Independent, 2007-09-25. Retrieved on 2007-09-25. 

[edit] External links