Anandabazar Patrika

History

A Bengali newspaper was published in 1871 in a small village of Magura at Jessore District in British India (now Bangladesh) by Sisir Kumar Ghosh, the father of Tushar Kanti Ghosh. He named it Ananda Bazar after Tusharkanti's grandmother's sister Anandomayee. However, soon the newspaper died. In 1868, Ghosh published another newspaper, named after his grandmother Amritamoyee: Amrita Bazar Patrika.

Later in 1922, the Anandabazar Patrika was relaunched by proprietor Suresh Chandra Majumdar and editor Prafulla Kumar Sarkar. It was first printed on 13 March 1922 under their ownership and was against British rule. In 1922 it first published as a four-page evening daily. After the death of Prafulla Kumar sarkar, his son Ashok Kumar Sarkar upgraded the magazine. The first colour printing was the features section. The internet edition of the newspaper was launched in 2001, which publishes news among the community. Also provides advertisement in the printed newspaper. In 2010, Time Inc. entered into a license agreement with ABP Group to publish Fortune India magazine. This magazine publishes the Fortune India 500 list every year.

Criticism and controversies

Anandabazar has faced criticism for its coverage of Bangladesh. A 2017 piece published in The Daily Star (Bangladesh) accused it of "alt-journalism" citing its track record of "outrageous blunders".

In June 2020, the newspaper was heavily criticised for making a derogatory remark about Bangladesh. It later issued a correction in its print version accompanied by an unconditional apology.

In December 2024, Anandabazar's story on Bangladesh Army was marked as 'false' by Bangladesh's Chief Adviser of Bangladesh. The publication a protest from Inter-Services Public Relations (Bangladesh (ISPR) which called the report "misleading" and "baseless". In addition, ISPR criticised the newspaper for not following "proper journalistic practice" because of not offering a right of reply. They urged the media to verify information from credible sources before reporting on sensitive issues.

In January 2025, another news report from Anandabazar on Bangladesh Army was identified as ‘fake news’ by Bangladeshi authorities. In its response Bangladesh’s CA Press stated that the story had “no more basis in reality than a Bollywood romcom”. The article was removed from its online portal a day after publication.

References

References

1. "Ishani Dutta Roy – Editor, Anandabazar Patrika".
2. "Highest Circulated Daily Newspapers (language wise)". Audit Bureau of Circulations.
3. "ABP Group – official site".
4. "Anandabazar Patrika: A perfect blend of tradition and modernity".
5. "Advertise in Anandabazar Patrika – releaseMyAd".
6. "Science Communicators Meet: Participant List".
7. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Nation".
8. (22 August 2013). "Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis". Scarecrow Press.
9. (2009). "Ananda Bazar Patrika Uniqueness: red ink printing". Media Mimansa.
10. "আমাদের সম্পর্কে".
11. "A Centenary Tribute – Asoke Kumar Sarkar (1912–1983)".
12. "Anandabazar Patrika {{!}} Purono". Anandabazar Patrika.
13. "India magazine".
14. (2024-10-21). "The new face of disinformation in post-Hasina Bangladesh".
15. (2023-08-20). "Anandabazar report on India's communication with US about AL baseless: Fakhrul".
16. Ahasan, Nazmul. (2017-04-07). "Anandabazar's alt-journalism".
17. (2020-07-27). "Anandabazar apologizes for derogatory remarks on Bangladesh".
18. (2020-06-23). "Anandabazar apologises for using word 'charity' on Bangladesh".
19. "“We’re sorry,” says Anandabazar Patrika".
20. (2020-06-23). "Anandabazar aplogises for using derogatory remark about Bangladesh".
21. (2020-06-23). "Anandabazar apologises for using ‘khairati’ in news on China-Bangladesh relation".
22. (2020-06-23). "India our biggest friend, but their media's comments on our exports to China not ok: Bangladesh FM".
23. (2024-12-28). "CA press wing debunks Indian Anandabazar Patrika's report". New Age.
24. (2024-12-28). "Bangladesh Army trashes India's Anandabazar report on 'Pakistan Army members’ arrival'".
25. (2024-12-28). "ISPR protests Anandabazar report on Bangladesh Army".
26. (2025-01-31). "CA Press Wing slams Anandabazar Patrika for false report on Bangladesh Army".
27. (2025-01-31). "CA press wing debunks Indian Anandabazar Patrika's report on Bangladesh army".
28. (2025-02-01). "Indian Anandabazar Patrika removes false report on Bangladesh army".
29. BSS. (2025-01-31). "Chief Adviser’s press wing debunks Ananda Bazar Patrika’s report on Bangladesh army".