Unbowed at 35: The Daily Star begins anniversary celebrations

The Daily Star today began two-day celebrations at its Dhaka office to mark its 35th anniversary, commemorating more than three decades of journalism guided by its founding motto: “Journalism without fear or favour.”

The programme began with the national anthem. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of the Rana Plaza victims, martyrs of the Liberation War and the July Uprising.

This was followed by an exhibition walkthrough on the ground and first floors of The Daily Star Centre.

The event also featured a documentary screening, the editor’s address, a gathering, and refreshments at the level-8 convention hall.

Founded on January 14, 1991, The Daily Star has grown into one of Bangladesh’s most trusted news sources and the country’s largest circulating English-language daily.

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Marking the occasion, the newspaper paid tribute to its readers and patrons, stating that their support for more than three decades had helped it continue its work through difficult times.

The anniversary comes months after an attack on The Daily Star office on December 18 last year, when the building was set on fire -- endangering the lives of 30 members of The Daily Star family, most of them journalists.

Despite the attack, the newspaper was published the following day with a single-word headline, “UNBOWED”.

It reflected the newspaper’s commitment to ethical journalism and its founding motto.

Hundreds of guests, including ministers, business leaders, politicians, academics, vice-chancellors, journalists, diplomats, development partners, civil society members, and patrons of the newspaper attended today’s event.

Eminent citizens including economist Prof Rehman Sobhan, founder and chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); rights activist and academic Hameeda Hossain; educator Abdullah Abu Sayeed; political scientist Prof Rounaq Jahan; Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain; Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, founder and executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC); were present, among others.

Political leaders and government officials such as Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman; Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku; Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid; BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan; Jamaat central leaders Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Maulana Abdul Halim and Ataur Rahman; Jamaat MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon; NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain; NCP Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam; and former interim government adviser Mahfuj Alam; and Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, former Cabinet Secretary; attended the event.

Business leaders who attended the programme included International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman; Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kamran T Rahman; Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh; HSBC CEO Md Mahbub-ur Rahman; Mastercard Country Manager Syed Mohammad Kamal; Bangladesh Chamber of Industries President Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez); Rupali Haque Chowdhury, managing director of Berger Paints Bangladesh; Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman of Dhaka Bank; Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear; Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Mahmud Hasan Khan; former presidents of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Presidents Mir Nasir Hussain, AK Azad; and former president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Md Fazlul Hoque; Mohammad Ali, managing director and CEO of Pubali Bank; Showkat Aziz Russell, president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA); and industrialist Anjan Chowdhury, of Square Group.

Tamim Iqbal, president of Bangladesh Cricket Board's ad hoc committee; Tabith Awal, president of Bangladesh Football Federation; and State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque also attended the programme.

Shahnaz Rahman, chairperson of Transcom Group, and Simeen Rahman, CEO of Transcom Group, were also present.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma, EU Ambassador Michael Miller, Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi, UK High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, Canadian High Commissioner Ajith Singh, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, German Ambassador Dr Rudiger Lotz, Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli, Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks, Norwegian Ambassador Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Møller, Argentine Ambassador Marcelo Carlos Cesa, Turkish Ambassador Ramis Şen, Thai Ambassador Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Maldives Ambassador Shiuneen Rasheed, Indonesian Ambassador Listyowati and Singapore High Commission’s Chargé d’Affaires Mitchel Lee,  were present.

Dhaka University International Relations Prof Dr Lailufar Yasmin and former ambassadors Tariq Karim and Kamrul Hasan were also present.

Besides, UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak, Unesco Country Representative Dr Susan Vize, International Fund for Agricultural Development Country Director Dr Valentine Achancho, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne were also in attendance.

The celebrations will continue tomorrow.