‘The Fourth Estate will not survive unless defended’
Martin Moore and Thomas Colley, authors of Dictating Reality: The Global Battle to Control the News (2025), discuss how governments worldwide manipulate the media, reshape public perception, and construct competing realities in an age of digital disinformation. The interview was conducted by Shamsuddoza Sajen of The Daily Star.
2 November 2025, 05:00 AM
‘The Fourth Estate will not survive unless defended’
Martin Moore and Thomas Colley, authors of Dictating Reality: The Global Battle to Control the News (2025), discuss how governments worldwide manipulate the media, reshape public perception, and construct competing realities in an age of digital disinformation. The interview was conducted by Shamsuddoza Sajen of The Daily Star.
2 November 2025, 05:00 AM
Reading power: How everyday texts shaped life under the British Empire
At the heart of Required Reading are forgotten readers from the past.
28 October 2025, 10:46 AM
Opinion / Whom will the Awami League supporters vote for?
The Awami League (AL) is very likely to haunt the entire exercise.
16 October 2025, 03:00 AM
A voice of resistance, progressive thought falls silent
Badruddin Umar, the eminent public intellectual, historian, and political activist, passed away in Dhaka yesterday at the age of 94. He breathed his last at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital, Shyamoli, around 10:05am. He was suffering from old-age complications.
7 September 2025, 18:10 PM
Badruddin Umar speaks / 'We must not lose focus from real political barriers'
Hasina took dynasty politics to levels we could not have ever imagined. What happened to Sheikh Mujib’s former residence was unfortunate. But I would say that Sheikh Hasina is partly responsible for the incident.
7 September 2025, 08:22 AM
The 36th day of July / August 5, 2024: The day the people triumphed
August 5 became a watershed in Bangladesh’s history -- the climactic peak of the July uprising.
4 August 2025, 18:10 PM
The July that rocked Bangladesh / August 4, 2024: The deadliest day of the uprising
August 4, 2024 marked the deadliest day of Bangladesh’s student-led uprising, as the non-cooperation movement entered an explosive new phase.
3 August 2025, 18:08 PM
East Pakistan will eventually become independent: Kissinger
A conversation was held on June 3, 1971 between US Ambassador to India Kenneth Keating, Assistant to the US President Henry Kissinger and NSC staff Harold Saunders about the situation of East Pakistan.
2 June 2021, 18:00 PM
No room for compromise with Pakistan: Tajuddin
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad categorically declared today that “there is no room for compromise (with West Pakistan) within the framework of Pakistan”.
1 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh delegation addresses Indian parliament
The Provisional Government of Bangladesh today ruled out any political settlement with the West Pakistanis. Home Minister AM Kamaruzzaman issued a statement to the press which categorically rejected President Yahya Khan’s offer of an amnesty. It’s a fight to the finish, he said.
31 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Bhashani rules out any political settlement
Rejecting straightway the proposals for a political settlement of the issues involved in the present revolt against Yahya Khan in Bangladesh.
30 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Transcript of Dhaka massacre
Evidence became available which appeared to confirm that the Pakistan Army’s operations in Dhaka on March 25 were part of a well-organised plan devised to terrorise the inhabitants into submission.
29 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Battle of Bhomra
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad said he failed to understand how the democratic governments of the world could support the dictatorial regime of Pakistan, which was crushing the democratic aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.
28 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Nixon asks India, Pakistan to show maximum restraint
In a letter dated May 28, 1971, American President Richard Nixon urged Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to continue to act with maximum restraint.
27 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh legislators plead for recognition
Pledges of $2.5 million by the United States and $2.4 million by Britain were the first by governments for a fund for East Pakistani refugees in India, the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees announced today.
26 May 2021, 18:00 PM
The Indians need a mass famine: Nixon
On May 26, 1971 American President Richard Nixon had a telephone conversation with his Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger on the situation in East Pakistan.
25 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Meghalaya border shelled
On May 25, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was shifted to Calcutta where it started functioning the same day.
24 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Yahya’s appeal for US support
In a letter dated May 24, 1971, Pakistan President Yahya Khan expressed his gratitude towards American President Richard Nixon and said,
23 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Indira urges Sadat to persuade Yahya
On May 23, 1971, American President Nixon had a discussion with his Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger as to the situation in Pakistan.
22 May 2021, 18:00 PM
‘Bangalees are true Muslims’
The US consul general in Karachi sent a telegram to the US State Department providing details of his meeting with Pakistan President Yahya Khan on May 22, 1971. As to the political situation in Pakistan, Yahya Khan affirmed his belief that the future of the wings were intertwined with the whole.
21 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Yahya invites refugees to return home!
Pakistan today conceded that there had been violations of human rights in East Pakistan and that “as in all conflicts innocent people had suffered”.
20 May 2021, 18:00 PM
‘Our struggle is not opposed to Islam’
The Pakistan military junta has failed to restore civil administration in areas under its control in Bangladesh despite desperate efforts and it would never be able to do so, Bangladesh Home Minister AHM Kamaruzzaman told UNI in an interview published in the Hindustan Times today.
19 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh Liberation Council formed
UN Secretary General U Thant appealed today to all governments and private sources to send relief assistance for the Bangladesh refugees who had crossed over to India.
18 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Pakistan seeks UN aid
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi warned Pakistan today that India “is fully prepared to fight if the situation is forced on us”.
17 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Indira writes to Nixon
Tajuddin Ahmad, the prime minister of Bangladesh, issued an 18-point directive on May 14 outlining the tasks of the people in the Liberation Struggle. He urged that the people should not listen to rumours nor should they have doubts about the ultimate victory.
16 May 2021, 18:00 PM
US asked not to give aid to Pakistan
Any American economic aid to Pakistan “will leave cash in their hands to pay their French arms bill and to step up arms purchases in the open market”, Rehman Sobhan charged today, adding that the US should give no aid, except for relief to be dispensed by international agencies.
11 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Weekly Jai Bangla launched
India and Pakistan agreed to accept Swiss help to repatriate their respective mission staff from Dhaka and Calcutta. This was the first time the two governments accepted a mediation offer by a third country for resolving the deadlock.
10 May 2021, 18:00 PM