‘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
Bhashani writes to Mao
Maulana Bhashani, leader of the National Awami Party (Bhashani), had written personal letters to Chairman Mao and the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Chou en-Lai, expressing surprise at Peking’s support to the Pakistani military junta.
19 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh Cabinet discusses war strategy
The Bangladesh cabinet met today and issued instructions to Col MAG Osmani for preparing a strategy to oust the occupation army from certain important strongholds.
18 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangalees claim Calcutta Consulate
The predominantly Bangalee staff of Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Calcutta took over the establishment today and transformed it into a mission of the newly proclaimed provisional government of Bangladesh.
17 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Mujibnagar government sworn in
The independence of Bangladesh was formally proclaimed today at Baidyanathtala, Meherpur.
16 April 2021, 18:00 PM
‘Bullets or Bread?’
The swearing-in of the cabinet members of the Bangladesh government-in-exile scheduled to take place on April 15, 1971 was postponed owing to the eruption of fighting in Kushtia.
15 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh cabinet approves 7-point plan
The first cabinet meeting of the provincial government of Bangladesh today laid down a seven-point programme for smooth functioning of the administration as far as practicable under the prevailing situation.
13 April 2021, 18:00 PM
War cabinet formed
A six-member war cabinet headed by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was formed today.
12 April 2021, 18:00 PM
China backs Pakistan and warns India
The Martial Law Authority in Dhaka announced today that government troops had destroyed all “subversive elements” in Chandpur and it promised that the lives and property of “minorities and other people” in the eastern wing of the country would be protected.
11 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Tajuddin seeks arms support
The Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro today broadcast a speech by the prime minister of the newly formed government-in-exile Tajuddin Ahmad.
10 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Independence proclaimed
The Mujibnagar Government was formed today to conduct the Bangladesh War of Liberation. The official announcement declaring independence of Bangladesh,
9 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Tikka Khan sworn in as governor
The Martial Law Administrator Lieutenant General Tikka Khan was sworn in as governor of East Pakistan today. Earlier, after his appointment as both the governor and martial law administrator in East Pakistan on March 8, 1971,
8 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Pakistan accuses India in UN
Bangladesh independence forces said today they had blown up a rail bridge linking the army held cities of Dhaka and Chittagong, destroyed an airfield near Comilla and captured an army depot holding nine tonnes of arms and ammunition.
7 April 2021, 18:00 PM
US asks for ‘peaceful accommodation’
Today, a small team of Bangalee members of EPR put up a brave fight against Pakistan EPR forces in Nazirhat, Chattogram and captured 18 of them as prisoners.
6 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Dangerous dissent
Two Bangalee diplomats -- Second Secretary KM Shehabuddin and Amjadul Huq, assistant press attaché at the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi -- today announced their decision to defect from Pakistan and pledged allegiance to Bangladesh at a press conference in New Delhi.
5 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Chuadanga declared provisional capital
New York Times reported today that Chuadanga had been designated the provisional capital of independent Bangladesh.
4 April 2021, 18:00 PM
Tajuddin calls on Indira
On April 4, 1971, Tajuddin Ahmad called on Indian PM Indira Gandhi at the office in her residence. The conversation started with Indira’s question, “How is Sheikh Mujib? Is he alright?”
3 April 2021, 18:00 PM
‘The smell of death is still everywhere’
Some of the 102 Britons who were evacuated to Singapore by air yesterday from East Pakistan revealed today the fighting and carnage they had seen.
2 April 2021, 18:00 PM
USSR urges Yahya to stop bloodshed
On April 2, 1971, N. V. Podgorny, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, sent a message to Pakistan President Yahya Khan expressing concern at the repression let loose against the people of Bangladesh by the Pakistani army:
1 April 2021, 18:00 PM
UN CHIEF REFUSES RELIEF REQUEST
The UN Secretary General U Thant declined to request the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to send relief to the victims of Pakistan military massacre in Bangladesh.
31 March 2021, 18:00 PM
Kushtia reclaimed
At 4:00am on March 30, 1971, Bangladeshi forces, comprising East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police and civilians under the leadership of Abu Osman Chowdhury,
30 March 2021, 18:00 PM