The official start of the “Bengali Herald” in Washington

Redowan Chowdhury, Chief of News Springfield, Virginia | December 2, 2018 On Sunday, December 2, 2018, the inaugural ceremony of "Bengali Herald"—a new news agency serving the Washington metropolitan area and the expatriate Bangladeshi community—was held at the Comfort Inn Hotel ballroom in Springfield, Virginia. Co-founded by Redowan Chowdhury and Anthony Pius Gomes, this online news portal aims to deliver impartial, objective, and ethical journalism. Its key objectives include engaging the new generation with the mainstream, contributing to social development, and showcasing Bangladesh's literature, culture, and heritage on the global stage. Legendary journalist and former Chief of the Voice of America’s Bangla Service, Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, attended the event as the chief guest. Special guests included Sarkar Kabiruddin and Anis Ahmed—both broadcast journalists and news analysts at the Voice of America (with Anis Ahmed also being a poet). Chief guest Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury inaugurated the portal by cutting a ribbon, while special guest Anis Ahmed launched it by clicking on the computer screen. Highlights of the Inaugural Ceremony · Welcome Address (Anthony Pius Gomes, Chief Global Editor): He welcomed the attendees, outlined the portal's objectives, and pledged a commitment to objective and principled journalism. · Guest Speeches: In their addresses, Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury and Anis Ahmed discussed the challenges of the digital age, the importance of disseminating accurate information, and the social responsibilities of media and journalists regarding objective reporting. · Portal Overview (Redowan Chowdhury, Chairman and Chief of News): Redowan Chowdhury provided a live demonstration of the portal's various sections, information search functions, and the technical aspects of the email subscription system. He noted that work on the site is ongoing and expressed confidence that, with everyone's cooperation, the portal would become even more enriched in the future. Panel Discussion and Q&A Session The second segment of the event featured a panel discussion and a direct interactive session with the audience. The session was moderated by Shatarupa Barua, Managing Editor of the Newsroom and Digital Audience Engagement for Voice of America’s English Division, who also teaches digital journalism at Georgetown University. The panel included Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Sarkar Kabiruddin, Anis Ahmed, Anthony Pius Gomes, and Redowan Chowdhury. The discussion covered various aspects of objective journalism, citizen journalism, professional accountability, and the digital media landscape. Special Acknowledgments The "Bengali Herald" family extends its sincere gratitude to the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to the event's success: · Special Guests and Moderators: Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Sarkar Kabiruddin, Anis Ahmed, and Shatarupa Barua. · Collaborators: Shampa Banik, Babul Banik, Jewel Barua, Rajib Barua (Moments Multimedia Group), Biplob Dutta, Shaon Rahman, Arif Islam (NRB TV), Rafiqul Islam Akash, Abu Sarkar, and Palash Chowdhury. · Hospitality and Venue: Mohammad Hussain (Kabab King) and Anis Khan (Owner, Comfort Inn Springfield). Contact Information: · Email: news@bengaliherald.com · Website: www.bengaliherald.com · Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube