Mahfuz Anam

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.

We express our deepest sorrow at the loss of lives and regret the killings and injuries suffered by the people in Borhanuddin of Bhola. As a people we abhor violence and as such cannot but be sad at the loss of lives. However, we need to examine why this happened and if there is any lesson to learn for the government, the law enforcers and us as a society.

Whenever a gross violation of law occurs, such as Abrar’s killing, ruling party leaders sing in chorus “nobody is above the law” and that “law will take its own course.” The truth is there are people above the law in this country, and the law takes its due course only when there is a “green light”.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose 44th death anniversary we observe today, stands tall among many heroes of history whose individual contributions have made their country and people great. However, as we delve deeper into what he did for us as a

Press freedom was a fundamental pillar of modern civilisation. Nearly all countries, save the communist bloc and the dictatorial regimes, ensured special protection for the media in their constitutions.

The reason we say that this “request” couldn’t have come from our Supreme Court judges is that the implication of the “request” is nothing short of death for court reporting. It will lead to shrouding of the judicial process and whatever goes on in the courts into the darkness of night forever depriving it of the “light” of public scrutiny.

The attack on Twin Towers by Al Qaeda launched the so-called “war on terror”. The massacre of 50 innocent worshippers in Christchurch should now trigger a global “war on hatred”. If the jihadists needed to be reined in, and correctly so, the white supremacists need to be stopped with equal vigour and urgency.