Unbowed at 35: The Daily Star begins anniversary celebrations

The Daily Star today began two-day celebrations at its Dhaka office to mark its 35th anniversary, commemorating more than three decades of journalism guided by its founding motto: “Journalism without fear or favour.”

The programme began with the national anthem. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of the Rana Plaza victims, martyrs of the Liberation War and the July Uprising.

This was followed by an exhibition walkthrough on the ground and first floors of The Daily Star Centre.

The event also featured a documentary screening, the editor’s address, a gathering, and refreshments at the level-8 convention hall.

Founded on January 14, 1991, The Daily Star has grown into one of Bangladesh’s most trusted news sources and the country’s largest circulating English-language daily.

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Marking the occasion, the newspaper paid tribute to its readers and patrons, stating that their support for more than three decades had helped it continue its work through difficult times.

The anniversary comes months after an attack on The Daily Star office on December 18 last year, when the building was set on fire -- endangering the lives of 30 members of The Daily Star family, most of them journalists.

Despite the attack, the newspaper was published the following day with a single-word headline, “UNBOWED”.

It reflected the newspaper’s commitment to ethical journalism and its founding motto.

Hundreds of guests, including ministers, business leaders, politicians, academics, vice-chancellors, journalists, diplomats, development partners, civil society members, and patrons of the newspaper attended today’s event.

Among those present were Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku; Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman; Jamaat central leaders Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Maulana Abdul Halim and Ataur Rahman; Jamaat MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon; NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain; Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain; rights activist and academic Hameeda Hossain; Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, founder and executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC); economist Prof Rehman Sobhan, founder and chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); political scientist Prof Rounaq Jahan; educator Abdullah Abu Sayeed.

Business leaders who attended the programme included Kamran T Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka; Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Syed Mahbubur Rahman, MD and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank; Rupali Haque Chowdhury, managing director of Berger Paints Bangladesh; Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman of Dhaka Bank; Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear; Mohammad Ali, managing director and CEO of Pubali Bank; Showkat Aziz Russell, president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA); and Tapan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Group.

Tamim Iqbal, president of Bangladesh Cricket Board, and Tabith Awal, president of Bangladesh Football Federation, also attended the programme.

Shahnaz Rahman, chairperson of Transcom Group, and Simeen Rahman, CEO of Transcom Group, were also present.

Representatives of Unesco and ambassadors of different countries attended the programme.

The celebrations will continue tomorrow.