Priorities for tomorrow

As we publish the fifth and final instalment of our anniversary special, The Daily Star marks 35 years of journalism with its gaze firmly set on the future. With the national election just weeks away, this concluding volume is devoted to a single, urgent question: what must be done next?

This final part, themed “Priorities for Tomorrow,” turns to the responsibilities that await the next elected government. Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment. The choices made in the coming years will shape not only the immediate political cycle but also the country’s long-term trajectory in a rapidly changing world.

This issue brings together some of the country’s most respected thinkers, practitioners, and policy experts to identify and examine the core priority areas that demand attention. The articles address the economy and governance, human rights and judicial independence, agriculture and food security, LDC graduation and global integration, public health challenges, urban planning and infrastructure, education reform, police accountability, foreign policy, national and maritime security, and more. Each contribution is grounded in evidence, experience, and a clear-eyed understanding of both constraints and possibilities.

Our aim is to offer a rigorous, informed framework for public debate—one that voters, policymakers, and institutions alike can engage with as the country prepares for a new electoral mandate. At a moment when noise often overwhelms nuance, rigorous analysis and deliberate prioritisation remain indispensable.

As The Daily Star completes 35 years, this final instalment reflects our enduring commitment: to serve as a platform for ideas that matter, to encourage accountability, and to contribute—through serious journalism—to the building of a more just, resilient, and forward-looking Bangladesh.