Taking journalism to new heights

The photo shows the huge gathering at The Daily Star's 20th anniversary celebration at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital yesterday evening.STAR

The Daily Star yesterday shared the joy of its 20 years of success with well-wishers, academics, business leaders, politicians, cultural activists, media personnel and member of the diplomatic corps.
The newspaper started its journey in 1991 and thence has been committed to taking the level of journalism to new heights. The odyssey has been as rough as it could get but the effort have been worthwhile.
Hundreds of people of different professions from home and abroad joined the grand reception under the banner “40 years of independence, 20 years of independent journalism” at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
The presence of people from all walks of life not only reflected the popularity of the paper but also its dedication to fair journalism.
As many as 10 newspaper editors from India, Pakistan and Nepal joined the grand ceremony.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, and senior members of the daily welcomed the guests.
The event started with an eight-minute video documentary on The Daily Star, its day-to-day functions and achievements.
Amid dazzling display of light in the background, Elita and Shondhi sang about the spirit of youth and how the new generation should pursuit a better future.
Eminent Indian columnist Kuldip Nayar, who has also been involved with this paper since its inception, said, “The Daily Star's moto is not only to write about democracy, human rights or governance but also to promote the ideas.”
The Daily Star has been a part of the country's democratic progress over the last 20 years, he said, adding, “The Daily Star is a good example in the region of impartiality and objectivity although it is supported by some corporate sectors.”
The editors of newspapers in India, Pakistan and Nepal praised the role of The Daily Star in the last 20 years. They spoke about its impartiality and its journalism without fear and favour.
Mahfuz Anam in his speech said without democracy free media cannot flourish and without free media democracy cannot survive.
He said when there is a clash between the government and free media, the government will win. “But it [the victory] will be very short-lived... in the end, the free media will win but in the meantime we will lose valuable time.”
The Daily Star editor urged the politicians and government not to ignore the free media but to take its revelations seriously and act accordingly. He said out of hundreds of news items published in the newspaper every day there may be some mistakes but those are far less than factual revelations.
In her welcome speech, Rokia Afzal Rahman, chairperson of Media World, the owner-organisation of the daily, said The Daily Star is more than a paper. It is an institution on which the people depend greatly.
The reception concluded with a mesmerising dance reflecting our war of liberation and independent journalism.
At the entrance of the venue, The Daily Star arranged a photo exhibition on the country's landmark events over the last 20 years. The topics included politics, business, environment, society, militancy and natural disasters, which immensely drew the guests' attention.
Our correspondents asked a number of guests about their views on The Daily Star's role as an independent media.
“It is a big achievement for Bangladesh that The Daily Star has worked with honesty and transparency in the last two decades,” said Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.
“Let's hope that The Daily Star will play even a bigger role for building the future of this country,” he said attending the gala ceremony of 20th anniversary.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, “I recall The Daily Star's founder editor the newspaper SM Ali on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.”
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said although he has his differences with some stance of The Daily Star, it is indisputable that the newspaper has established a new standard of journalism in the country.
Chief Information Commissioner M Zamir said, “I consider The Daily Star a part of my everyday life.”
Eminent journalist and columnist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury expressed his happiness that The Daily Star has become 20 years old. “It is a fantastic newspaper. I believe it will progress in leaps and bounds,” he said.
A trustee of the Liberation War Museum Sarwar Ali said the newspaper's contributions to the organisations that preserve accounts of the Liberation War are commendable.
Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, an adviser of BNP, said it is a great achievement for the newspaper that it has been maintaining a standard over the years.
CPB President Manzurul Ashan Khan said independent journalism is rare in the country. But The Daily Star is trying to do the formidable job of promoting fair journalism.
Hasan Arif, general secretary of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, termed The Daily Star a non-partisan and transparent newspaper.
“When it comes to the county's cultural issues, the newspaper goes deep which is really inspiring,” he said.
The quality of The Daily Star surpasses that of many other newspapers in the country, said ASM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyaan, a Dhaka University teacher.