Pabna, Aug. 13 (V7N) — Daily Karatoa, a longstanding regional newspaper, has celebrated its 50th anniversary and marked its entry into the 51st year with a discussion and cake-cutting ceremony in Pabna.

The programme was held at the VIP Hall of the Pabna Press Club on Wednesday afternoon. Press Club President Akhteruzzaman Akhter chaired the discussion, while its Literary and Cultural Secretary Iyad Ali Mridha Pavel moderated the event.

Speakers at the programme said Daily Karatoa had earned the trust of readers over the past five decades by consistently highlighting issues affecting ordinary people. They described the newspaper as a widely respected publication in northern Bangladesh and praised its journalists and district- and upazila-level correspondents for their contribution to local journalism.

Among those delivering greetings were Pabna Press Club General Secretary Johurul Islam, former presidents ABM Fazlur Rahman and former secretaries Utpal Mirza and Saikat Afroz Asad, former vice-president Shahiduzzaman Shahid, club member and Ekushey Television and Manab Zamin correspondent Rajiur Rahman Rumi, and Karatoa's Sujanagar correspondent Toufiq Hasan.

Karatoa's Pabna District Correspondent Shaheen Rahman delivered the welcome address.

A number of journalists and media professionals were also present, including former Pabna Press Club President Rumi Khandaker, Treasurer Abul Kalam Azad, former Treasurer Dr Naresh Madhu, former Joint Secretary GK Sadi, New Age correspondent Mahfuz Ahmed, Office Secretary Moniruzzaman Shipon, Daily Bibriti Executive Editor Kazi Babla, Our Time correspondent Sushanta Kumar Sarkar, ATN News and Agamir Shomoy correspondent Rizvi Joy, Kaler Kantho and Jago News correspondent Alamgir Hossain Nabil, and representatives of Karatoa from several upazilas.

Speakers praised Editor and Publisher Mozammel Haque Lalu for expanding the newspaper's reach and establishing it as a recognisable name in Bangladesh's regional media landscape.

They expressed hope that Daily Karatoa would continue to grow and serve readers in the years ahead, saying its commitment to reporting on people's concerns should continue for generations.

The celebration concluded with guests and well-wishers cutting an anniversary cake and sharing sweets to mark the newspaper's 50 years of publication and its entry into its 51st year.

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