FROM PAGE 12

set fire to The Daily Star office must be punished.

The newspaper should also try to unmask the culprits through investigation reports, he said.

He also urged the paper to organise roundtables and seminars in different regions of the country, not just in the capital, where it regularly organises such events.

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said that MPs must support independent journalism because it is one of the major supporting forces for anyone seeking to earn people’s trust and understand public opinion.

He said ruling party MPs may not always get the truth from bureaucracy, administration or intelligence channels, while opposition MPs often face the same problem when relying on information from party loyalists.

“Truth will come to you through independent journalism. Please always remember this,” he said, addressing the lawmakers.

He also reminded the MPs of their dual existence. They are nominated by parties, but become MPs through people’s votes.

“Please do not forget that one reason for your existence is the voters, and another is the party. Your loyalty should be to both sides,” he said.

Mahfuz Anam said MPs often hesitate to speak for people due to party directives, pressure or fear.

Referring to the BNP government’s “Bangladesh First” policy, he said it must be reflected in political thought, words, values and actions.

“When you say, ‘Bangladesh First,’ your entire thinking must put Bangladesh first, not your party first,” he said, adding that politicians should not claim to put Bangladesh first while insisting the country’s interest is served only if their party wins.

“At this moment, parliament can become a dream place for us. MPs can make that happen,” he said, urging greater accountability from the new government.

He said one of the major failures of past governments, particularly the “fascist government” of the last 15 years, was blocking every path of free expression. Citing the Digital Security Act, he said it was used to take away people’s freedom, humiliate them and send them to jail. “The people, not those who used the law, have ultimately won,” he added.

The programme began at 4:30pm with the national anthem and a minute of silence to honour the martyrs of the Language Movement, the struggle for independence, the Liberation War, and the July 2024 uprising. A documentary on the newspaper’s 35-year history, highlighting last year’s arson attack, was screened, alongside a photography exhibition.

The event opened with a speech delivered by Dipankar Roy, Khulna correspondent for The Daily Star, welcoming the guests.

Other speakers included Swapan Kumar Guha, executive director of Rupantar; Kudrat-e-Khuda, former president of Sachetan Nagorik Committee; SK Noor Alam, representative of Waterkeepers Bangladesh for the Pashur river; Enamul Haq, former president of Khulna Press Club; Mostafa Sarwar, current president of the club; and Bibhas Mandal, a farmer from Batiaghata.

Members of the Khulna Hawkers Union were also present and exchanged greetings.

The Khulna celebrations followed central anniversary events at the newspaper’s Dhaka office on April 24–25. Earlier, the divisional tour began in Chattogram on May 2.