bdnews24.com is an English and Bengali language news portal of Bangladesh. On 1 September 2023, the website was wiped out due to suspected hijacking, and all the content were inaccessible.[1][2] It came back online on 5 October 2023.[3]
 | |
| Type | Online newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Mobile & Web |
| Owner(s) | Bangladesh News 24 Hours Ltd. |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Publisher | Toufique Imrose Khalidi on behalf of Bangladesh News 24 Hours Ltd |
| Editor-in-chief | Toufique Imrose Khalidi |
| News editor | Arun Devnath, Jahidul Kabir, Monirul Islam |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Language | English and Bengali |
| Headquarters | Red Crescent Concord Tower, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Website | bdnews24 |
History
In 2005, the company launched initially as the country's first exclusively web-based news agency, and was known as BDNEWS. The website bdnews24.com developed by Ahmed Yasir Riad (2005–2013) was Bangladesh's first 24/7 bilingual news web portal.[citation needed] The other two national news agencies at the time were the state-owned Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and the privately owned United News of Bangladesh (UNB), which at the time were teleprinter-based "wire services".[citation needed] Following a take-over in mid-2006 at the agency's holding company Bangladesh News 24 Hours Ltd, ownership is vested between two sole board directors: Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, and chair of the company Asif Mahmood.[citation needed]
In October 2006, bdnews24.com relaunched as Bangladesh's first free online newspaper developed by Yasir, and was rebranded as bdnews24.com. Editor-in-Chief Khalidi is a journalist and former BBC broadcaster.[4] On 28 May 2012 the office of bdnews24.com was attacked by men with machetes injuring three journalists.[5][6]
Website block
2018
In June 2018, Bdnews24.com was blocked without explanation by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).[7][8] After several hours, the BTRC unblocked the website. According to the chairman of the BTRC, the site had "added some objectionable comments in one of their news items". The item was not identified by the BTRC, but other sources reported that it was about General Aziz Ahmed's appointment as army chief of staff.[9]
2023
BDNews24 shut down on 1 September 2023. Somoy TV published a news on it on 4 September 2023 titled "Suddenly 'Closed' BDNEWS, Kar Dosha Kar Garhe". It says bdnews news is not showing, a white page appears, with only date on top and editor and publisher Taufiq Imroz Khalidi's name below.[10]
About this shutdown, BDNews authorities said - "For reasons beyond our control, it is not possible to provide regular services to readers on our news portal. We sincerely apologize. We assure readers, our fight to bring the website back is on. For now, keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram, X Page and YouTube channel for updates.[10][1]
Bangladeshi-American political scientist Ali Riaz responded, "BDNews24 published an analysis by Chandan Nandy on India's influence on Bangladeshi politics. The article has since been published on an Indian website and claims that the BDNews24 website has been 'blocked' in India and Bangladesh."[10] As of 7 September 2023, the site showed a maintenance message.[11] The following month the site was operational again.[12]