SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD - 2019

Janomot

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Janomot is an ethos, an identity for the Bangladeshi diaspora in Britain; it is an agenda-setting news brand perceived as having more intrinsic value than any other on the British-Bangladeshi community.

It is the leading Bengali publication in the UK for high-quality coverage of local news and opinions most meaningful to them. It influences the policy-makers from politics to business to focus and act on BAME-centric issues and encourages more readers to form more informed opinion. Proudly independent, it prioritises public interest over the agenda of the elites.

It also supports British-Bangladeshi business development schemes and works alongside established businesses.

Founded in London in February 1969, it is the oldest Bengali newspaper in the United Kingdom, first of its kind published outside Bangladesh and West Bengal, and one of the longest-serving ethnic minority newspapers in Britain and even Europe.

Now in the 50th year of publication, which it is celebrating with events throughout 2019, it has expanded from print-only to digital journalism to provide a deeper news experience through multimedia and interactivity. The idea is to cater for an even larger, diverse audience including English-speaking readers.

Janomot has chronicled Bangladeshis’ fight against racism in Britain starting with the mass movement following the murder of Altab Ali in 1978 and Bangladesh’s battle for freedom beginning with the 1969 Mass Uprising and culminating in the 1971 War of Independence. This newsweekly became the only Bengali voice abroad and the mouthpiece of Bengalis’ aspirations.

Janomot played a pivotal role in inspiring younger British-Bangladeshi generations in the late 1970s to fight against racism and integrate into British society. In the 80s, it ran a strong, sustained campaign to encourage the British-Bangladeshis to enter mainstream politics, represent them in parliament and to sensitise the parents about sending their children to colleges and universities.