Prothom Alo

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Prothom Alo is a Bengali-language daily newspaper published from Dhaka, Bangladesh. It started on 4 November 1998 and is owned by the Transcom Group, with Matiur Rahman serving as editor-in-chief since its founding. It is one of the country’s most widely read papers.

The newspaper reaches a large audience both on print and online. In 2018, National Media Survey reported about 6.6 million people read the print edition every day, and the online portal was said to be the most visited Bengali website in the world. The print circulation grew from 42,000 copies at launch to around 500,000 copies daily, with additional outlets in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Bogra. Prothom Alo is known for investigative reporting, including work on acid attacks and efforts to tighten laws on acid sales. It also promotes education, helping popularize mathematics in Bangladesh by organizing the Mathematics Olympiad since 2003.

Matiur Rahman, the editor-in-chief, received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2005 for journalism. He donated the prize money to funds supporting acid-burn survivors, anti-drug campaigns, and persecuted journalists. Prothom Alo’s influence in education continued with its sponsorship of math competitions. The paper earned the 2025 Best in South Asia award from the INMA Global Media Awards.

Over the years, Prothom Alo has faced criticism and controversy. Islamic groups have protested against content they view as disrespectful to religion. In 2007, a satirical cartoon in its magazine Alpin sparked nationwide protests and led to temporary actions against the publication. In 2010, the release of a book by the paper drew calls for withdrawal. In late 2024, tensions resurfaced after reporting that some Islamists were labeled as “militants,” resulting in protests and attacks on offices in several cities. In 2023, a case was filed under the Digital Security Act against the editor and a reporter over a Ramadan cost-of-living story, which the Prime Minister described as harmful to the state; the editor was later granted bail.

The paper has also faced legal questions around literature and cartoons, including a 2012 injunction related to Humayun Ahmed’s novel Deyal. In 2019, a tragic electrocution at a Kishor Alo event led to arrest warrants for the editor and others, cited as a failure of safety at the event.

In December 2025, the Prothom Alo headquarters in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, were attacked and set on fire after the death of a public figure. The violence caused extensive damage and raised serious concerns about press freedom. The attack drew condemnation from journalist groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and international observers, including the EU ambassador to Bangladesh.

Prothom Alo remains a major news outlet in Bangladesh, known for its investigative journalism and social campaigns, while facing ongoing debates about religious sensitivities and the challenges to independent media.