Home
+
Published : 23 Oct 2025, 08:40 PM
"Just journalism. Always"
These three words have encapsulated bdnews24.com’s ethos over the past 19 years.
On Thursday, at Dhaka’s Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, bdnews24.com celebrated its 19th anniversary in the presence of prominent leaders and influencers from different sectors, all recognising the transformative impact of digital journalism in the nation.
In his speech, Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi reinforced the boundaries and responsibilities of the media: “As a news organisation, our mission is not to rule but to report; not to govern but to hold governors to account.”
His words were not just a reflection on the past but a reminder of the ongoing duty of journalism in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Khalidi’s address began with gratitude for those in attendance: “There’s a certain magic in this room tonight. I look out and I see the architects of modern Bangladesh.
“The minds that shape our policy, drive our economy, steward our institutions, and inspire our nation. Your presence here is not just an honour; it is a profound validation.”
Standing before an audience of influential figures, Khalidi reflected on the early days of bdnews24.com. “Seventeen years ago, I stood on this very stage, in this very room, speaking to mark our second anniversary. It was just weeks before an election that would define our nation's destiny for the subsequent two decades.”
“We spoke of democracy, accountability, political process and inclusiveness. I remember saying the media would play a part in that process, but would not be a part of it.”
With Bangladesh on the verge of another national election a year after the pivotal July Uprising, Khalidi argued that it was time to revisit those discussions, particularly the media’s role in holding power to account.
A REVOLUTIONARY DECISION
The story of bdnews24.com began in the first half of 2005. Initially, the platform operated as a news wire agency, distributing stories to other media outlets. While traditional agencies relied on teleprinters, bdnews24.com embraced the internet as its medium for distributing news.
In 2006, a shift in ownership and management led to a complete transformation. Under Khalidi’s leadership, bdnews24.com rebranded itself as the first dot-com news company in the country.
On Oct 23, 2006, it launched as a 24/7 news service, marking the beginning of a new era for Bangladesh’s media landscape.
Reflecting on that moment, Khalidi said, “We are here to commemorate a single, revolutionary decision. It was not merely the launch of a website. It was the throwing open of the digital gates.”
At the time, bdnews24.com was a subscription-based service with a limited readership. However, the decision was made to break down the walls that separated information from the public.
“On this day, 19 years ago – on October the 23rd, 2006 – our team of news gatherers and editors stood at a crossroads. bdnews24.com existed, but as a subscription-only news service for local newspapers and television channels. The information was there, but it was behind a wall,” Khalidi said.
The shift from a subscription-based news agency to a free, 24/7 news service was monumental.
“We made a choice. We decided to tear that wall down,” he said.
“We transformed from a service into a public square. We became the first online newspaper in Bangladesh, and we believe, one of the first of its kind in the world,” Khalidi said.
“Overnight, the wait for news ended. The delay between the event and the bulletin vanished. The traditional gatekeeping of information was rendered obsolete. The future of news arrived on our screens, and it was free,” he said.
“Free for every person in Bangladesh with an internet connection. In that moment, we did not just change our business model; we changed our destiny.
“This was more than a strategy; it was a manifesto. A declaration that the people’s right to know was absolute. We placed a bet on the intellectual curiosity of the people of Bangladesh.
“And you—all of you in this room, and tens of millions outside it—proved us right.”
For the past 19 years, bdnews24.com has had the privilege of documenting Bangladesh’s rapid transformation, he said.
“We have been the digital witness to your boardroom decisions and your policy breakthroughs. The journey of bdnews24.com is inextricably linked with your journey.”
He added, “This path demanded relentless innovation and an unwavering commitment to accuracy, fairness, and independence. In an age of accelerating noise, we have strived to be your signal of clarity and trust.”
NEXT GREAT SHIFT
Khalidi, however, made it clear that the night’s celebration was not merely about reflecting on past decisions but about looking forward to the next great revolution in media.
“But tonight is not just about looking back. It is also about looking forward to the next revolution.”
He outlined the coming decade as one shaped by artificial intelligence, the fight for truth in a fragmented digital world, and the next leap forward for Bangladesh.
“The role of a credible, agile, and accessible news organisation has never been more critical,” Khalidi said.
Shedding light on bdnews24.com’s plans on the dawn of hyper-connectivity while staying true to its founding principles, he said: “Our pledge to you is this: The spirit of 2006—to be open, as free as possible, and first—remains our guiding star.
“We will harness new technology not to replace journalism, but to empower it. We will invest in the investigative units that hold power to account and the platforms that ensure news remains a right, not a privilege.”
Khalidi also acknowledged the national introspection that had taken place in Bangladesh following significant political and social upheaval.
“The past years have shown us the profound cost of chaos. When law and order are threatened, it is not just headlines that suffer—it is the entrepreneur hesitating to invest, the innovator fearing uncertainty, and the family worrying about their future,” he said.
“Bangladesh, a country of boundless ambition, wants and deserves better. It deserves a calm where businesses can plan and where every citizen can feel secure,” he said.
Reminding this stability is not found in silence, he said: “It is forged in the furnace of accountable, representative governance. A government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people is, by its very nature, accountable to the people.
“It is a government that listens more than it speaks and that views dissent not as a threat, but as a vital feedback loop.”
Khalidi underscored the importance of stability through accountability.
“We believe that the clearest path to the stability and prosperity we all seek is through strong, independent institutions and a government that embraces its sacred duty to be transparent.
“This is not a political stance; it is a democratic imperative.”
He also highlighted bdnews24.com’s editorial integrity amid political turmoil.
“One of the finest compliments we received over the past year, amid the post-5th of August chaos, was that nothing had changed at bdnews24.com. There was no shift in editorial stance, even as the rest of the media landscape underwent a massive -- and not particularly decent -- makeover.
Khalidi reminded the audience of the seriousness of governing the state.
“It requires a serious mandate. It requires people equipped to make immediate and long-term decisions; people who can negotiate complex foreign policy and security issues; people who will not forget the millions who fought and sacrificed their lives to secure our freedom fifty-four years ago.
“We are far from that ideal. Let us all work together to that end. We can only play a supporting role. We will never be the protagonists.”
Khalidi’s reflections were not just about the media’s role; they were a call to action for the country’s leaders to work together for a prosperous and stable future.
"We will remain your partner in progress, your critical friend, your most reliable source," he said, leaving a strong message of hope and commitment to a transparent and accountable future.
