FROM PAGE 1
more than three decades of a journey guided by its founding motto “Journalism Without Fear or Favour”.
MA Salam, former vice president of the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, termed the December 18 attack “heinous” and urged legal action from the government.
Delwar Majumder, former president of the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh, Chattogram centre, said, “I spent the whole night in tension after learning that journalists were stranded on the rooftop during the assault.”
Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, state minister for land and CHT affairs, said no community can sustain itself without press freedom. “I humbly request The Daily Star to criticise our work in a constructive manner.”
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain praised the newspaper’s motto, saying the paper truly practises independent journalism. “I urge the editor to highlight the issues of Chattogram more prominently in the newspaper reports.”
Abu Sufian, BNP lawmaker from Chattogram-9, expressed confidence that the paper would continue its commitment to the people in the future just as it has for many years.
The celebration followed a central event held at the newspaper’s Dhaka office on April 24-25. Chattogram marked the first stop in a month-long divisional tour that will see the anniversary celebrated in Barishal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh as part of the month‑long tour.
Kamal Ahmed, the newspaper’s consulting editor, said news media is inseparable from democracy. “We never thought we could come under an attack after the July uprising. The attack proves that those who don’t like independent journalism are still active.”
Mahfuz Anam stressed that a newspaper’s popularity depends on its connection with readers, pledging more coverage of Chattogram as part of national development.
“Those who are in power should understand that news media is the only way for the government to know the right information,” he added.
He urged the people of Chattogram to patronise the independent journalism, adding, “We pledge that we will be responsible.”
The programme commenced at 4:30 pm with the national anthem, followed by a one-minute silence observed in memory of the martyrs of the Liberation War and those who lost their lives during the anti-autocracy movement in 1990 and the July uprising in 2024.
This anniversary carried a special weight, coming just months after last year’s harrowing attack on The Daily Star office in Dhaka on December 18. During the incident, a mob set the building on fire, endangering the lives of 30 staff members, mostly journalists, who were trapped on the rooftop before being rescued.
Despite the destruction of six floors, the newspaper did not miss a single day of publication. The following morning, it hit the stands with a defiant, single-word headline: “UNBOWED”.
“Our support for more than three decades has helped us continue our work through the most difficult times,” the newspaper stated in a tribute to its readers and patrons. “The headline ‘UNBOWED’ was not just a word; it was our commitment to ethical journalism.”
The Chattogram event featured a documentary screening and photo exhibition on the attack. Attendees included politicians from across the spectrum -- BNP, Jamaat‑e‑Islami, left‑leaning organisations, Hefazat‑e‑Islam, the National Citizen Party, the Communist Party and Ganosamhati Andolon -- as well as leading business figures from BSRM Group, Pacific Jeans, Eastern Apparels, Asian Group, Independent Apparels and others.