In 2024, Bangladesh witnessed a historic transformation. A youth-led mass uprising shattered a 15-year dictatorship, igniting hope for a new Bangladesh. This July/August uprising led by students was defined by resilience, defiance, and an unshakable demand for truth.

Amid this transformative period, Bangladesh’s Prothom Alo spearheaded a courageous print and online initiative — Echoes of Defiance — that not only redefined journalism but also sparked a new era of youth engagement.

Speaking truth to power

Prothom Alo faced tremendous pressure from security forces and government authorities during the movement, yet continued to serve as a trusted source of real-time, fact-checked news through its print and digital platforms with courageous journalism.

The results were unprecedented:

• Print circulation rose by 150,000 copies.
• Prothomalo.com reached 310 million pageviews.
• 43% of online traffic came from Gen Z.
• Prothom Alo English portal received 3.5 million page views, showing strong global interest.
• Social media had 74 million engagements.

Prothom Alo became more than a media outlet; it became the voice of a movement.

Historic coverage 

To truly resonate with Gen Z — the heartbeat of the revolution — Prothom Alo launched “In Rebellion and Revolution,” a dynamic digital platform designed to capture the essence of the student movement. It featured a calendar, statistics, photos, videos, documentaries, special supplements, and much more.

In just one month, it attracted over 1 million unique visitors, making it a vital reference for the movement and a living memorial for future generations.

Prothom Alo launched “Rebellion On Camera,” a user-generated content contest inviting youth to submit powerful visuals from the movement. Over 1,000 photos and videos poured in. A jury of renowned judges selected 20 standout entries, which were later showcased in public exhibitions and embedded into the uprising Web portal.

It was a visual tribute to the defiance, unity, and voice of a brave generation. 

Immediately after the uprising, Prothom Alo published a series of five supplements, “In Rebellion and Revolution,” about the July uprising. They featured powerful photographs from the movement, the names of martyrs and victims, poems, and vibrant graffiti that captured the spirit of resistance across the nation. 

Prothom Alo’s 26^th anniversary aligned with the July uprising, and four supplements were published to observe our anniversary. Each offered a unique perspective on the movement and its broader impact on society, featuring interviews and moments that defined courage, along with hopes and expectations for meaningful change in the country’s socio-economic landscape. 

Visual reminders

Other ways Prothom Alo documented this history in action were:

• A video documentary, In Rebellion and Revolution, detailed the July uprising and showcased Prothom Alo’s courageous journalism, which provided the people with the truth. Prothom Alo has since released two more documentaries on the July uprising.
• A photo journal book, Free Yourself from Fear, was published on the 26^th anniversary of Prothom Alo’s founding and featured rare, courageous, and powerful photographs captured by Prothom Alo journalists during the movement.
• An exhibition, The July Uprising, showcased tangible evidence from the movement: personal belongings of protesters and martyrs, powerful photographs, newspaper headline clippings, and more, bringing to life the struggle and sacrifice of those who stood for change during the July uprising. A virtual exhibition tour was also arranged to take it nationwide.
• Prothom Alo has published six books documenting the movement, portraying its various aspects and the 15 years of dictatorship by the previous regime.

The combined force of Echoes of Defiance marked a pivotal chapter in Prothom Alo’s journey. It became more than a news outlet: It became a platform for empowerment, a mirror for a rising nation, and a trusted companion in turbulent times. In an era where media often struggles to engage younger audiences, Prothom Alo did more than engage — it inspired.

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