bdnews24.com cuts across the divide

News-makers from an entire spectrum shared the platform on the 7th anniversary of bdnews24.com, as tension and uncertainty contrasted with growing optimism over a dialogue to end the political impasse.

The anniversary at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel on Wednesday brought together not only politicians from the rival alliances but business leaders, sportspersons, bureaucrats, men in uniform and judiciary as well literary and cultural personalities.

Emceed by Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, the event connected diplomats and mediators, politicians, decision-makers and business oligarchs to each other.

With the personalities and players who have shaped the nation’s times having taken their seat at 8:50pm, the anniversary celebrations began earnestly with the national anthem.

Both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia said bdnews24.com had set news standards in credibility and contributed to strengthening the country's democratic process.

Addressing the gathering, Khalidi emphasised not only on the responsibilities of the politicians to continue the democratic process, but also on ensuring a free and functioning media.

He shed light on different issues including the current political impasse and the media’s role regarding it.

Then the dignitaries cut a cake marking the seven years of ‘Drafting History’, wishing success to the country's first online newspaper and joined the dinner.

Of the guests, former Caretaker Chief Advisor and former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman and Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali cut the cake with others guests including BNP leaders Abdul Moyeen Khan and Osman Faruq, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim and former CPB President Monjurul Ahsan Khan on stage.

Those who were also on stage included National Professor Salauddin Ahmed, Barrister Rafique-Ul Haque, former caretaker government Advisor Geeti Ara Safia Chowdhury, painter Monirul Islam, physicist Harun-ur Rashid, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Anwar Hossain and freedom fighter Masud Sadik.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith had come and joined the celebrations briefly, so did Awami League Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed.

Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose also shared the stage.

Dignitaries at the anniversary celebrations included Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander A Nikolaev, Indian Deputy High Commissioner Sandeep Chakravorty and the Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh.

Among the business leaders, former FBCCI Presidents Salman F Rahman and Mir Nasir Hossain, former BGMEA President Anwar-ul Alam Parvez and DSE President Ahsanul Islam Tito joined the cake-cutting ceremony.

The cultural personalities who joined the celebrations included actor and BFDC Director General Pijush Bandyopadhyay, singers Aditi Mohsin and Maqsudul Haque.

Sports personality Zobera Rahman Linu, journalist Mozammel Babu and Foreign Friend of Bangladesh Julian Francis, who stood by the Bengalis during the Liberation War of 1971, also came onstage.

bdnews24.com’s Editor-in-Chief Khalidi, Social Affairs Editor AN Mahfuza Khatun Baby Maudud, arts.bdnews24.com editor Poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, Senior Editors Subir Bhaumik and Amanullah Kabir and Asif Mahmood, Chairman of Bangladesh News 24 Hours Ltd, the owning company of bdnews24.com.

Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak, several top judges, civil and military officials were also present.

Among the political leaders, Jatiya Party Chairman (JP) Anwar Hossain Monju, BNP leaders Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Ahmed Azam Khan, Barkatullah Bulu, Amanullah Aman, Khairul Kabir Khokan and Nazim Uddin Alam were present.

Poets Habibullah Siraji, Mahmud Sadiq, Rashid Haider, architect Rabiul Hussain attended the programme with messages of greetings. Former Director General of Bangla Academy Prof Md Harun-ur Rashid was also present in the programme.

Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Mizanur Rahman, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, Power Secretary Monowar Islam, Energy Secretary Mozammel Haque, Maasranga Television CEO Fahim Munaim greeted the bdnews24.com family.

The High Court judges aside, lawyer Manzil Murshid, Md Azahar Ullah Bhuiyan, Deputy Attorneys General Motahar Hossain Saju, Md Selim, Amit Talukder, Delwar Hossain Samaddar and Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua were in audience.

FBCCI's President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, DCCI's President Md Sabur Khan, ICB's Managing Director Md Fayekuzzaman, former BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy, Merchant Bankers Association President MA Hafiz, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Selima Ahmad, CSE President Al Maruf Khan, fund management advisory company AIMS's CEO Yawar Sayeed attended the programme.

Preset among the cultural personalities were Syed Hasan Imam, BTV Director General M Hamid, his wife Shishu Academy Director Falguni Hamid, composer and lyricist Maksud Jamil Mintu, dance artiste Laila Hasan, singers Khairul Anam Shakil and Ibrar Tipu were present. Rokhsana Khondoker, executive director of Khan Foundation, was also present.

Major General Mamun Khaled, Rear Admiral M Makbul Hossain, CID's Additional Inspector General Mokhlesur Rahman, DMP's Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman and Assistant Commissioner Md Abu Yusuf joined the festivity.

Ganajagaran Mancha Spokesman Imran H Sarkar and one of its organisers Maruf Rasul and Rokhsana Khondker founder and executive director of Khan Foundation attended the function among others.

Representatives from the embassies of the US, the UK, Netherlands, Palestine and some other countries also attended the colourful event at the Grand Ball Room.

bdnews24.com, Bangladesh’s first internet newspaper, was launched this day seven years ago. It remains the definitive source of news and record for politicians, policymakers, newsmakers and millions of readers from around Bangladesh and the world.

“Our journalism has set new standards of credibility and fairness for the media to emulate," a bdnews24.com spokesperson said.

‘BDNEWS’ underwent a massive makeover after change in ownership in 2006. It emerged as Bangladesh’s first dot com company and came to be known as bdnews24.com under a new management led by journalist Toufique Imrose Khalidi.

Now Google Analytics shows hundreds of thousands of readers from 235 countries and territories visiting bdnews24.com.

Since 2011, it has been averaging 10 million viewers per month -- a five times rise over previous years.

That translates into 45 million page views and 80 million minutes of internet traffic every month.

When activists of Hifazat-e-Islam marched into Dhaka in early May to hold an indefinite sit-in at Motijheel, Dhaka’s business hub, one million people visited the site for a round-the-clock, comprehensive coverage.