A celebration of resilience
The Daily Star yesterday marked the final day of its 35th anniversary celebrations, with the scars of the December 18, 2025 arson attack still on full display.
Guests were greeted not by a traditional gala but by exposed brick and soot-blackened pillars, where the acrid, lingering scent of charred debris clung to the air.
After visiting the exhibition, Law Minister Asaduzzaman said the scene was not something that could leave anyone with a pleasant feeling.
"Freedom of the press is deeply linked with democracy. An attack of this nature on a newspaper, regardless of difference of opinion, is, I believe, an attack on the heart of democracy.
"We want this situation to end, and we want Bangladesh to move forward on the path of press freedom. These [memories] are like a nightmare. … Let the nightmare end," he said.
Also at the event, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said the space The Daily Star has created for itself in Bangladesh's journalism landscape is unparalleled. "I sincerely hope the daily continues this journey and sets new examples in journalism."
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury said, "What I saw today — the destruction — is deeply saddening and unfortunate. I hope no one stands as an obstacle to freedom of speech, whether it is The Daily Star, other newspapers, media outlets, or television channels."
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said that seeing the exhibition was both painful and inspiring. "The attack on The Daily Star was an attack on an institution that symbolises independent and free media in Bangladesh. In other words, it was an attack on the country's media, and on the expectation and aspiration for a free press."
Commenting on the way the attack was carried out, he questioned the role of the then government and added that identifying the attackers and bringing them to accountability is not "rocket science".
"It is only a matter of goodwill on the part of the relevant state institutions."
Researcher and political analyst Altaf Parvez said this year's celebration was different because The Daily Star had gone through a "firestorm".
"The fires at The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were not isolated incidents. They were planned acts by a specific political group, which is still powerful in society."
Explaining the obstacles to free media, he said Bangladesh remains politically backward. "…. We do not have democracy, though our electoral system sometimes succeeds and sometimes regresses."
Eminent media personality, theatre activist and actor Tariq Anam Khan said that he is "traumatised".
"We are artistes, and perhaps it is our failure as artistes that we have not been able to nurture or instil that sense of humanity. Day by day, we seem to be becoming more like animals; in many ways, animals are better than us. There may be protests, but there is a proper way to express them. One may disagree, but one cannot seek to silence or erase others."
Notable playwright, television drama and stage play director Masum Reza said, "It [the attack] was carried out in an organised manner. Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and then Chhayanaut — all were targeted. We have seen many of those involved; some of them are known to us. If their punishment is not ensured, this wound will never heal."
Veteran actor, director and scriptwriter Mamunur Rashid said a newspaper that is determined to tell the truth does not belong to any particular group. "The way The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were attacked reflects the fact that these newspapers take a strong stand against extremism. This role must be protected at any cost. Those responsible [for the attack] must not be given any form of support or encouragement."
Anisul Hoque, author and managing editor of Prothom Alo, said an attack on a media institution is not only an attempt to kill journalists or destroy an institution but also a conspiracy to reduce democracy to dust.
The programme began with the national anthem, followed by a one-minute silence observed in memory of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 anti-autocracy movement, and the 2024 July uprising, and also the victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy.
It also featured a musical performance by Khayam Sanu Sandhi and his team, and concluded with a melodious presentation of "Gems of Nazrul" by Sadya Afreen Mallik and her group.
Members of the Bangladesh War Courses Foundation, including Maj Gen (retd) Jamil D Ahsan Bir Protik, who trained in India's West Bengal alongside Mahfuz Anam, attended the programme and presented a crest to the editor of The Daily Star as a mark of profound honour and respect.
Speaking on the concluding day of the celebrations, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said, "When independent newspapers are set on fire, it is democracy that burns, and it happened in our country.
Calling the parliament a "dawn of the new", he expressed hope that it would become the centre of all national debates.
"We have a new parliament borne out of proper elections. May they never forget that they were given power by the people. They may have been nominated by the party, but they were placed in the parliament by the people. It is more important that that is where their loyalty, commitment and devotion lie."
Anam said, "As an English newspaper, we have limitations when it comes to reaching the people in the grassroots. We are trying to ensure any and every way possible to reach them and tell their stories…"
He then urged his colleagues in the media to be inclusive and to speak for the classes who are underrepresented — those in rural areas, those from the lower economic classes, women and the "farmers and the general masses".
He also reminded journalists not to forget their duty.
The eminent personalities gracing the event included Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser to the prime minister on information and broadcasting; Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE); Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of SHUJAN; Dr Ainun Nishat, professor emeritus at BRAC University; Mohammad Azam, director general of Bangla Academy; Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation; and Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies.
Writer and educationist Prof Niaz Zaman; Dr Manzoor Ahmed, professor emeritus at BRAC University; economist Prof Abu Ahmed; Mahrukh Mohiuddin, managing director of University Press Limited; Firoz Ahmed, member of the Constitution Reform Commission; Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC; Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of the daily Manabzamin and president of NOAB; Prof M Tamim, vice chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh; Sajjad Sharif, executive editor of Prothom Alo; and Prof Shamsad Mortuza, vice chancellor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), attended the event.
Also present were Dr Wakil Ahmed, professor of the Bangla department at the University of Dhaka; media personality Abdun Noor Tushar; Ijaz Hossain, leading energy expert and professor at BUET; Gawher Nayeem Wahra, founder member of the Disaster Forum; Dr Kudrat-E-Huda, essayist and researcher; Aftab Hossain, chairman of the journalism department at Daffodil International University; Ehteshamul Eiten, the university's chairman of the English department at Daffodil International University; Ilira Dewan, former member of the National Human Rights Commission; Shahidullah Faraizi, renowned lyricist; Amirul Momenin Manik, artist and writer; Sadat Hossain, fiction writer; Sakhawat Tipu, director of the National Book Centre; Kallol Mustafa, writer and columnist; and Jharna Rahman, fiction writer.
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