'Expectation from Daily Star is to always speak for the people'

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque yesterday said that expectations from The Daily Star are always to “speak for the people of Bangladesh and stand for the truth”, while praising the newspaper for presenting accurate information and stressing the importance of a free press.

The former footballer made the remarks at The Daily Star’s Dhaka office during the newspaper’s 35th anniversary celebrations. The event was attended by several sports personalities and heads of different sporting bodies, including Tabith Awal, president of the Bangladesh Football Federation, and Tamim Iqbal, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s ad hoc committee.

“From a young age, when we thought of English-language newspapers, The Daily Star was the first one we came to know well. Over its nearly 35-year journey, with all its ups and downs, it has built a strong position today. I believe this standing has been shaped by the support and love of the people of Bangladesh, as well as the dedication of those who have nurtured the paper over the years. Because of their efforts, The Daily Star is now firmly established. On its 35th anniversary, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to everyone at The Daily Star.”

“The Daily Star will speak for the people of Bangladesh and stand for the truth – these are the expectations from The Daily Star. When I was a player, I was praised when I performed well, and when I had a poor match, I was criticised. In that sense, I have felt that The Daily Star has tried to present accurate information to the nation in an impartial manner. I hope it continues to move forward with that same neutrality.”

“We have always spoken about the importance of a free press. In that context, it is deeply shameful that a certain group tried to exploit the situation to serve their own interests and agendas. This has already been strongly condemned, and we must all remain vigilant to ensure such incidents do not happen in the future. We want The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and other media outlets to continue to operate freely, speak the truth, and present it honestly to the nation. That is my appeal to all independent newspapers.”