Mahfuz Anam

The September 2 issue of The Daily Star had two contrasting stories that dramatically expose our hypocritical attitudes towards our expatriate workers.

It is quite astounding that he lived for only 55 years (1920-1975) and achieved so much. He may not have written treaties in philosophy, literature and science but he brought to life a social and political epic that transformed the life of millions of his people and channelled history in a direction that Bangalees only dreamt of but hardly believed that it would happen.

He was an editor’s dream of an investor. But he turned out to be so much more. Yes, Matiur Rahman and I run the two papers -- Prothom Alo and The Daily Star respectively -- but it was he who made them happen, with his principles, integrity, courage, steadfastness, strength of character, and unswerving faith in independent media without which, he intuitively knew, that democracy could not flourish.

The photograph, on the front page of yesterday’s The Daily Star, of a five-year-old named Shaon, lying dead on a gurney and his wailing grandfather on the floor of the entrance of Chattogram Medical College Hospital will make the heart of all parents, grandparents and ordinary citizens of the country cry out in pain, anger and frustration.

Yesterday, we published a caption story of the 24-year-old Jhuma sitting on the footpath in the vicinity of Shahid Minar in a state of near collapse, supported by her husband, Shujan, standing next to her.

He always finished his speech much earlier than we wanted him to.

A journalist, Shafiqul Islam Kajol, disappears on March 10 following the filing of a case under Digital Security Act (DSA) by Saifuzzaman Shikhor. Video footage shows evidence of some people surrounding his motorbike as he is about to leave his office in Hatirpool in the evening.

While we are haunted by the spectre of coronavirus damaging our society, its health and the economy, there is another “virus” that has been destroying us from inside for decades.

We condemn the official who issued it, commend the one who withdrew it and ask the question why was it necessary?

This March 26 is probably one of the most sombre ones yet, with all celebrations cancelled as the country comes to grips with a global pandemic unlike any we have seen before.

Europe, according to WHO, is the new epicentre of COVID-19 pandemic today. Of that epicentre, Italy is the worst affected followed by Spain.

It is now 49 years that I, along with millions of others, had that special opportunity to be a part of history by being personally present at the Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on 7th March afternoon to hear, what turned out to be one of the most outstanding speeches in recent history.

Past segments of The Daily Star’s 29th anniversary supplement series have focused on how Bangladesh is adapting to digital platforms.

In today’s world, digitisation is an inescapable reality. Although primarily talked about in the context of the more advanced countries, digitisation is uniquely impacting the lives of millions in this part of the world.

For better or for worse, our everyday lives have changed forever. Our lives are now seemingly wrapped by giant leaps in technology that takes us closer to a science fiction prophesy.

On January 29, about 36 hours before campaigning stopped, and two days before the election itself, the ruling party mayoral candidate for Dhaka south, Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, made public his election manifesto.

Implementing any one or all of these promises would be like a dream come true for every Dhaka resident. However, the moot question is whether these mayoral candidates know the powers of a mayor and how poorly equipped a mayor’s office is in implementing them?

Last Sunday, supporters of the BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka South, Ishraque Hossain, and those of the AL councillor aspirant, Rokon Uddin Ahmed, clashed while carrying out election activities on behalf of their respective candidates.

Abed Bhai, as Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was lovingly called by almost all those who knew him, was well into his fatal illness when Cyclone Bulbul struck Bangladesh.

At 48 Bangladesh has much to celebrate on Victory Day which is a day that always brings with it mixed emotions.