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Prothom Alo

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Prothom Alo
প্রথম আলো
TypeDaily newspaper
Owner(s)Transcom Group
EditorMatiur Rahman
Founded4 November 1998
LanguageBengali
HeadquartersCA Bhaban, 100 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Websitewww.prothom-alo.com

Prothom Alo (Bengali: প্রথম আলো) is a Bengali-language daily newspaper in Bangladesh. It is published from Dhaka. It is one of the most read newspapers in the country.[1] A survey in 2018 said that more than 6.6 million people read Prothom Alo online every day. Alexa Internet is an American company that looks at website traffic. They said the online portal of Prothom Alo is the most visited Bengali website in the world.[2]

The newspaper has been running for 27 years. However, on 19 December 2025, it could not print its paper for the first time. This happened because of an attack on its office.[3]

History

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Prothom Alo started on 4 November 1998. At first, it made 42,000 copies. Later, this number grew to half a million copies.[4] The newspaper became famous because it wrote about serious problems. It reported on acid attacks and violence against women. It wanted stronger laws to stop the sale of acid.[4][5] The paper has printing presses in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Bogra. About 500,000 copies are sent out every day (numbers from 2014).[1] A survey in 2018 said that 6.6 million people read the paper copy daily. The total number of people who read it online and in print is about 7.6 million.[6]

On 17 May 2021, a reporter named Rozina Islam was held for five hours at the Bangladesh Secretariat. She went there to report on the health ministry. An official filed a case against her. They used the Official Secrets Act.[7][8] Police took her to the Shahbagh Police Station.[9] They questioned her for five days.[10][11] She was let out of Kashimpur prison on bail on 23 May 2021.[12]

Digital platforms

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The website of Prothom Alo[13] is the top Bangladeshi website in the world.[source?] About 1.6 million people visit it from 200 different countries. It gets 60 million page views every month. Its e-paper (digital paper) is also the number one e-paper site in Bangladesh.[14] [source?]

Editors

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Since= its founding in 1998, Matiur Rahman is the main editor.[15] In 2005, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award. He won this for his work in journalism and literature.[16]

Mathematics Olympiad

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Prothom Alo helped make mathematics popular in Bangladesh. It started the Mathematics Olympiad in the country in 2003. It is a main sponsor of the Bangladesh Mathematics Olympiad.[17]

Matiur Rahman, the editor of Prothom Alo

Recognition

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Prothom Alo fights against bad things in society. It campaigns against acid violence, drugs, HIV/AIDS, and religious terrorism. Because of this work, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation gave Matiur Rahman an award in 2005. They said he helps bring good changes to society. This award is like the 'Nobel Prize of Asia'.[16] Rahman gave the prize money to the Prothom Alo Trust. This money helps women burnt by acid, fights drugs, and helps journalists who are in trouble. In 2025, the newspaper won the 'Best in South Asia' award from the International News Media Association (INMA).[18]

Sister concerns

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Prothom Alo is owned by Mediastar Ltd. It has other businesses too:

  • ABC Radio FM 89.2:[2] This radio station started on 7 January 2009. It is very popular in Dhaka. It also plays in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
  • Prothoma Prokashon: This is a company that prints books. It started in 2008. People praise it for making high-quality books. It won awards from the Bangla Academy in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
  • Prothoma Boier Dunia: This is a book store. There are five stores in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rajshahi.
  • Protichinta: This is a magazine about society, money, and politics. It comes out every three months.
  • Kishor Alo: This is a monthly magazine for young people. It started in October 2013. It has stories, poems, games, and science facts. It uses many volunteers across Bangladesh.
  • Biggan Chinta: This is a science magazine. It started in October 2016. It writes about astrophysics, environmental science, and science fiction.
  • Chakri.com: This website lists jobs. It also helps with career advice and training.
Meril-Prothom Alo Award Giving Ceremony, Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC)

Controversy and criticism

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Religious and social disputes

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Prothom Alo has had problems with Islamic groups. These groups said the newspaper did not respect their religion. In 2007, a magazine called Alpin was part of the newspaper. It printed a cartoon. People thought the cartoon made fun of a name linked to Muhammad. Islamist groups were very angry. They protested all over the country. The government stopped the magazine for a short time. The newspaper said sorry. Police arrested the cartoonist on 18 September 2007. He was in jail for six months.[19][20][21][22] In 2010, Anisul Hoque wrote a book called Gadya Cartoon. People said it made fun of the Quran. Islamic critics wanted the book removed. They said the paper was hurting religious values.[23]

In late 2024, trouble started again. The newspaper called some Islamists "militants."[24][25] On 24 November 2024, Islamic organizations protested outside the newspaper's main office in Karwan Bazar.[26][27] The protests became violent. A mob tried to attack the office in Chittagong.[28] In Rajshahi and Bogura, attackers broke things and burned signboards.[29][30][31][32] The editor said the accusations were not true. He said people were attacking independent journalism.[29][33][34] Groups like the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said these attacks were bad for press freedom.[35][36][37][38][39][40]

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The newspaper has faced legal and political trouble. In March 2023, it wrote a report about the high cost of living during Ramadan. There was a mismatch between a photo of a child and the text. The paper fixed the mistake. But, the government filed a case under the Digital Security Act (DSA). They sued editor Matiur Rahman and a reporter. They said the paper made the country look bad.[41][42] Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the newspaper an "enemy" of the people.[43] Rahman later got bail. Amnesty International said the government was harassing the press.[44][45]

In 2012, the High Court issued an injunction (a legal order). It was about Humayun Ahmed's novel Deyal. The paper published the novel. The court questioned how the book described the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[46] In 2007, Rahman wrote an editorial criticizing the BNP-Jamaat alliance. Islamist groups did not like this.[47] Recently, other news sources accused Prothom Alo of being biased.[48][49]

Management and corporate allegations

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The newspaper and its owner, Transcom Group, have faced other accusations. On 1 November 2019, Naimul Abrar died. He was a student at Dhaka Residential Model College. He was electrocuted at an event organized by Kishor Alo, the newspaper's magazine. Police said the organizers were careless. A court ordered the arrest of the editor and others in January 2020.[50][51][52]

People also accused Transcom Group CEO Simeen Rahman of money crimes. There are claims she tried to bribe former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop legal cases.[53][54][55] There are also claims about stealing family shares using fake documents.[56][57][58] Some critics say editor Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam helped with these bad acts.[59][60][61][62]

Arson at head office

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Burnt exterior of Prothom Alo's office.

On 18 December 2025, the main office of Prothom Alo was attacked. The building is in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. This happened after Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi died.[63][64]

Late that night, a mob of protesters marched to the office. They came from Shahbag. Witnesses said the attackers were a group of extremist youths. They climbed the building. They broke things in the front room and smashed windows. Then, they set fire to furniture and papers at the entrance.[65][66]

Police tried to stop them but failed.[67] Journalists and workers were trapped inside during the violence.[68]

Prothom Alo said the attack was planned. The fire caused a lot of damage. It destroyed valuable documents.[69] The organization called it a "terrorist attack." Mahfuz Anam said he now fears for journalists' safety more than anything else.[70] Anam said the attack was not an accident. He said it was "murderous."[71]

Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus said the attack was very bad. He said it hurt independent media and democracy.[72] Many groups condemned the attack. These included the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), the Editors' Council, and Transparency International Bangladesh.[73][74]

The EU ambassador to Bangladesh also condemned the incident. He called it a "terrible moment" for democracy.[75]

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Top 10 Newspapers of Bangladesh (With Pictures)". yourarticlelibrary.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  2. 1 2 "Top Sites in Bangladesh". Alexa. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. ↑ Quillen, Stephen. "Mass protests in Bangladesh demanding justice after top youth leader dies". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  4. 1 2 "Current Circulation". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  5. ↑ "Prothom Alo Editor Gets Magsaysay Award". Voice of America. 2005-08-01. Archived from the original on 2009-07-13.
  6. ↑ [National Media Survey 2018, SIRIUS Marketing and Social Research Ltd. (Associate of IMRB International)]
  7. ↑ "Rozina Islam faces charge under official secrets law". The Business Standard. 2021-05-18. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  8. ↑ "I am a victim of unjust acts: Rozina Islam". The Business Standard. 2021-05-18. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  9. ↑ "Prothom Alo journalist Rozina taken to police station after 5 hours' confinement at Secretariat". The Daily Star. 2021-05-17. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  10. ↑ "Will continue journalism, says a determined Rozina". The Daily Star. 2021-05-23. Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  11. ↑ "Rozina Islam gets prestigious award for journalism". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  12. ↑ "Rozina freed on bail after 7 days". The Daily Star. 23 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Prothom Alo". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019. {{cite news}}: Text "Latest online Bangla world news bd" ignored (help); Text "Sports photo video live" ignored (help)
  14. ↑ "Prothom Alo ePaper". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019. {{cite news}}: Text "Bangla Newspaper, World news" ignored (help); Text "eProthomalo" ignored (help)
  15. ↑ "Bangladesh through Matiur Rahman of Prothom Alo's eyes". Adgully.com. 2010-11-22. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  16. 1 2 Rahman, Matiur (2005-09-02). "When Media Takes a Stand for Social Change: The Experience of Prothom Alo in Bangladesh". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  17. ↑ "Bangladesh IMO team 2007". Bangladesh Mathematics Olympiad Committee. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  18. ↑ Khan, Azwaj (2025-05-23). "Prothom Alo wins Best in South Asia award". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  19. ↑ "Cartoonist jailed in Bangladesh". 2007-09-19. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  20. ↑ "Cartoonist released in Bangladesh". 2008-03-20. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  21. ↑ "Violence over Bangladesh cartoon". BBC. 2007-09-21. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  22. ↑ "Cartoonist freed". Committee to Protect Journalists. 21 March 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  23. ↑ "'Prothom Alo' group's mischief against Islam". Daily Sun. January 24, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  24. ↑ প্রথম আলোর বিরুদ্ধে ভয়ংকর অভিযোগ, কিন্তু কেন? | Prothom Alo | kaler Kantho (Video) (in Bengali). 4 December 2024.
  25. ↑ আপনার সন্তান জঙ্গি হচ্ছে না তো? [Your child isn't becoming a terrorist, is he?]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  26. ↑ "Brawl outside Prothom Alo office, sound grenades used". jagonews24.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  27. ↑ "Police disperse protesters in front of Prothom Alo office". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  28. ↑ "Chaos in front of Prothom Alo; cops drive away demonstrators". The Daily Star. 2024-11-25. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  29. 1 2 প্রথম আলো-ডেইলি স্টারের সামনে বিক্ষোভের কারণ কী? যা জানা যাচ্ছে [What is the reason for the protest in front of Prothom Alo-Daily Star? What is known]. BBC News (in Bengali). 2024-11-27. Archived from the original on 24 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  30. ↑ "Prothom Alo's Rajshahi office vandalised". Prothom Alo. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  31. ↑ "Prothom Alo Rajshahi office vandalized, signboard set on fire". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  32. ↑ "Prothom Alo Rajshahi, Bogura offices attacked". The Daily Star. 2024-11-26. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  33. ↑ Chakraborty, Debdutta (2024-11-27). "Won't be bogged down, says Prothom Alo editor as Bangladesh's leading dailies come under attack". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  34. ↑ "Why Bangladesh protesters are targeting popular newspaper, Prothom Alo". Firstpost. 2024-11-26. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  35. ↑ পত্রিকা অফিসে ভাংচুর বা বন্ধের জন্য চাপ সহ্য করবে না অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকার: নাহিদ [Interim government will not tolerate pressure to vandalize or close newspaper offices: Nahid] (in Bengali). Voice of America. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  36. ↑ "Vandalism at newspaper offices, pressure to close newspapers down won't be tolerated: Nahid". The Business Standard. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  37. ↑ "Rein in mob justice with iron hand: Editors' Council tells govt". Prothom Alo. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  38. ↑ "Take strict action against mob justice". The Daily Star. 2024-11-27. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-03. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 27 October 2024 suggested (help)
  39. ↑ "CPJ for probe into threats against media houses". The Daily Star. 2024-11-27. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  40. ↑ "CPJ for probe to protests outside The Daily Star, Prothom Alo offices, vandalism at Prothom Alo Rajshahi office". Prothom Alo. 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  41. ↑ "Case filed against Prothom Alo editor under DSA". Dhaka Tribune. March 30, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  42. ↑ "2 ministers, AL leaders slam Prothom Alo over report". The Daily Star. March 30, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  43. ↑ Sarkar, Alisha Rahaman (April 10, 2023). "Bangladesh PM calls newspaper 'enemy of the people' after journalists arrested". The Independent. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Prothom Alo editor granted bail in a case under DSA". Prothom Alo. August 16, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Deepening crisis of press freedom in Bangladesh". Amnesty International. April 12, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  46. ↑ "HC injunction on publication of Humayun's novel Deyal". New Age. 2012-05-16. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  47. ↑ "What lies behind the mask of Prothom Alo, Daily Star?". Bangladesh Pratidin. February 17, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Prothom Alo's biased journalism raises eyebrows". Somoy News (in Bengali). January 1, 1970. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  49. ↑ প্রথম আলো ও ডেইলি স্টারের ওপর ক্ষোভ ঝাড়লেন আসিফ নজরুল [Asif Nazrul expresses his anger at Prothom Alo and Daily Star]. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  50. ↑ "Dhaka Residential Model College student electrocuted at Kishor Alo function". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  51. ↑ "Arrest warrant against Prothom Alo editor, 9 others". Prothom Alo. 2020-01-18. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  52. ↑ "Arrest warrant against Prothom Alo editor raises concern". The Business Standard. 2020-01-18. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  53. ↑ "'Simeen bribed Hasina with Tk100cr to silence legal charges'". Bangladesh Pratidin. 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  54. ↑ "'Simeen Rahman bribed Hasina with Tk100cr to hush up cases'". Daily Sun. 2025-02-03. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  55. ↑ "Transcom disputes bribery allegations, but questions remain". Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 2025-02-07. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  56. ↑ "ট্রান্সকমের দলিল জালিয়াতি". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  57. ↑ "Forgery in Transcom documents". Daily Sun. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  58. ↑ "RJSC papers doctored with fake stamps". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  59. ↑ তিন মাসের অনুসন্ধান শেষ করেছে টিম ফিফটিন মিনিটস: ইলিয়াস হোসেন. Janakantha (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  60. ↑ Elias Hossain (2025-05-18). এ যেন কেয়ামতের আলামত! #elias_hossain. Retrieved 2025-05-21 – via YouTube.
  61. ↑ "জালিয়াতি করে ৩০ হাজার কোটি টাকার সম্পদ কব্জা করেন ট্রান্সকমের সিমিন | Transcom | Prothom alo". Kaler Kantho YouTube page. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  62. ↑ সিমিন রহমানের ট্রান্সকম গ্রুপকে মাফিয়া বললেন সাংবাদিক জুলকারনাইন. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 30 January 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  63. ↑ "Shahbagh blockade continues amid protests over Osman Hadi's murder". The Business Standard. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  64. ↑ Rawnsley, Jessica (2025-12-18). "Violence erupts in Bangladesh after death of youth protest leader". BBC news. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  65. ↑ "After night of violence, The Daily Star, Prothom Alo employees return to burnt newsrooms to assess damage". The Business Standard. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  66. ↑ "Attack, vandalism, and arson at Prothom Alo office in Dhaka". Dhaka Tribune. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  67. ↑ Singh, Namita (2025-12-19). "Angry mob sets fire to offices of leading newspapers after activist shot dead in Bangladesh". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  68. ↑ "Bangladesh violence: Protesters torch major newspaper Prothom Alo, Daily Star offices after activist's death | VIDEO". The Indian Express. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  69. ↑ "প্রথম আলো-ডেইলি স্টার আক্রান্ত". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 20 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  70. ↑ "Journalists' personal safety has now become the overriding concern: Mahfuz Anam". Prothomalo. 2025-12-22. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  71. ↑ "We have entered an 'era of murder,' says Mahfuz Anam". The Business Standard. 2025-12-22. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  72. ↑ "প্রথম আলো ও ডেইলি স্টার হামলায় ঘটনায় যে প্রতিক্রিয়া জানিয়েছে". BBC Bangla (in Bengali). 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  73. ↑ "প্রথম আলো ও ডেইলি স্টারে হামলা: আইনশৃঙ্খলা পরিস্থিতির অবনতিতে নোয়াব-সম্পাদক পরিষদের উদ্বেগ". The Business Standard (in Bengali). 19 December 2025.
  74. ↑ "গণমাধ্যম ও ভিন্নমতের ওপর আক্রমণ রাষ্ট্রের গণতান্ত্রিক ভিত্তিতে আঘাত: টিআইবি". The Business Standard (in Bengali). 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  75. ↑ "'Terrible moment' for Bangladesh's democracy: EU ambassador terms attacks on The Daily Star, Prothom Alo". The Daily Star.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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