NARAYANGANJ. Oct 9: Prominent citizens of the town today welcomed the forthcoming launch of a new Bengali daily — Prothom Alo — and hoped that it would be a modern. non-partisan and independent newspaper upholding the values and qualities of objective journalism.

At a citizens’ get together at the Press Club Auditorium here, they said that the country needed newspapers committed to improving the political situation and social and economic situation of the country through its courageous role and concern for people.

The Prothom Alo is expected to hit the newsstands shortly.

Editor of the daily Matiur Rahman said he left the Bhorer Kagoj. of which he had been editor for more than five years, because he was being restrained from discharging his editorial duties independently.

Editor of The Daily Star and Publisher of Prothom Alo. Mahfuz Anam also spoke.

Assistant Editor of the daily Anisul Haq gave an outline of the newspaper and described various issues relating to the background of the Prothom Alo.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Principal of Narayanganj Girls' College Dr Karunamaya Goswami, rhyme composer Abdul Mannan, poet Amjad Hossain, General Secretary of Narayanganj Bar Association Advocate Asaduzzaman Asad, entertainer Dr Abdun Noor Tushar and leader of the Bhorer Kagoj Pathok Forum Yakub Rana.

Narayanganj correspondent of the daily Asif Hossain conducted the programme.

Earlier, president of the local Press Club Habibur Rahman Badal received Matiur Rahman and Mahfuz Anam.