The Daily Star

The Daily Star
Name	The Daily Star
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Founded	1991
Headquarters	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Language	English
Circulation	100,000 (approx.)
Editor	Mahfuz Anam

The Daily Star is an English-language newspaper published in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in 1991, it has become one of the country's leading broadsheets, known for reporting on politics, society, and international affairs. The paper regularly covers developments involving Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia, Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, United Nations, World Bank, and regional neighbors such as India, Myanmar, and Pakistan.

History

The founding of the paper in 1991 followed the restoration of parliamentary politics after events associated with Hussain Muhammad Ershad, 1988 Bangladesh floods, and the transition from military rule to civilian leadership. Early coverage linked the title to reportage on the 1991 Bangladesh general election and debates around the Taka (Bangladeshi taka), the Bangladesh Bank, and policy responses from figures like Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. During the 1990s and 2000s the paper reported on the Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict, the Padma Bridge controversy, and the 2007–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. Its coverage also extended to regional diplomacy including the Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of 1974 legacy and maritime disputes adjudicated by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The paper chronicled responses to natural disasters such as the Cyclone Sidr and the 2013 Bangladesh garment factory collapse.

Ownership and Management

Ownership structures have involved prominent media entrepreneurs and business entities in Dhaka, with managerial leadership including editors and publishers who have navigated relations with institutions such as the Election Commission of Bangladesh, the Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh), and courts including the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Senior editors have engaged with journalistic bodies like the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and international press organizations including Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists, and the International Press Institute. The paper's executive leadership has interacted with global figures and organizations like the United Nations Development Programme, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, and diplomats from United States, United Kingdom, and China.

Editorial Content and Sections

The newspaper features sections on national politics, metropolitan affairs, business, arts, and international news, reporting on actors and institutions such as Hefazat-e-Islam, Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and tribunals like the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh). Business coverage references the Dhaka Stock Exchange, Chittagong Stock Exchange, conglomerates such as Beximco, Square Group, and industrial sectors tied to the Ready-made garments industry in Bangladesh. Cultural pages review literature and film involving figures like Humayun Ahmed, Satyajit Ray, Taslima Nasrin, and events such as the Dhaka International Film Festival and the Ekushey Book Fair. Opinion pages host columnists and commentators who engage with personalities including Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Prize in Economics, and development debates tied to the Grameen Bank model.

Circulation and Distribution

Print circulation has been concentrated in urban centers including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, and Khulna. Distribution networks extend to academic institutions like University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and media houses in expatriate hubs where expatriate communities and diplomats maintain ties to news about Rohingya refugee crisis and bilateral ties with Myanmar. The paper has historically competed with other Bangladeshi dailies such as Prothom Alo, Kaler Kantho, Ittefaq, and English-language rivals including New Age and The Independent for readership among policymakers, corporate executives, and civil society actors like Transparency International Bangladesh.

Digital Presence and Online Strategy

The outlet has invested in online platforms to reach readers across digital ecosystems including social media communities tied to Facebook, Twitter, and content distribution networks used by diasporic populations in United Kingdom, United States, Middle East, and Malaysia. Digital strategy emphasizes multimedia reporting on international crises involving Rohingya conflict, climate-related events linked to the Bay of Bengal, and policy shifts debated at forums such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The editorial team has integrated searchable archives for coverage of major legal and political events including hearings at the International Court of Justice and domestic rulings from the High Court Division of Bangladesh.

Controversies and Criticism

The paper has faced disputes and criticism over editorial decisions, legal challenges, and libel claims involving public figures such as politicians and business leaders. Coverage at times prompted responses from state institutions including communications regulators and security agencies tied to incidents in which journalists were summoned by authorities such as the Inspector General of Police (Bangladesh). Debates around media freedom engaged organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local advocacy groups, with controversies touching on the balance between reporting on groups like Jamaat-e-Islami (Bangladesh) and national security measures. Critics and press freedom advocates have compared its editorial stance with international outlets covering Bangladesh such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera.

Category:Newspapers published in Bangladesh