The Daily Star (Bangladesh)

The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Name	The Daily Star
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Founded	1991
Founder	Mahfuz Anam
Publisher	Mediaworld Limited
Language	English
Headquarters	Dhaka
Circulation	100,000 (est.)

The Daily Star (Bangladesh) is an English-language daily broadsheet published in Dhaka and widely regarded as a leading newspaper in Bangladesh. Founded in 1991, it operates alongside publications such as Prothom Alo, The New Nation, The Independent (Bangladesh), and Daily Sun (Bangladesh), and it engages with regional and international actors like BBC News, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera on journalistic collaborations. The paper covers politics, business, culture, and international affairs involving entities such as Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, United Nations, and World Bank.

History

The paper was established in 1991 by Mahfuz Anam after the restoration of parliamentary processes that followed periods involving figures like Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, and events such as the 1990 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh and the 1991 Bangladeshi general election. Early coverage intersected with national developments involving institutions like the Election Commission (Bangladesh), the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, and crises such as the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny and the 2007–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. The Daily Star reported on international affairs including the Iraq War, Afghan War (2001–2021), and the Rohingya refugee crisis, linking local politics to actors such as United States Department of State, European Union, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Ownership and Management

Ownership traces to the media company Mediaworld Limited and prominent individuals including founder Mahfuz Anam; management has featured editors and board members with connections to institutions like Dhaka University, Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh Press Council, and legal proceedings in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Corporate governance has been influenced by interactions with regulatory bodies such as the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and media organizations like the Press Institute of Bangladesh and Reporters Without Borders.

Editorial Stance and Political Coverage

The paper's editorial line has been described in relation to parties and figures including Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia, and policy debates on issues involving International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and regional players like India, Myanmar, and China. Coverage often intersects with institutions such as the Armed Forces Division (Bangladesh), the Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh), and the Election Commission (Bangladesh), while commentaries reference scholars from University of Dhaka, BRAC University, Jahangirnagar University, and global analysts from Chatham House and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Circulation, Distribution and Readership

Circulation figures place The Daily Star among peers like Prothom Alo and BDNews24, with distribution concentrated in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna, and readership including policymakers in Secretariat, Dhaka, diplomats from missions such as the United States Embassy, Dhaka, British High Commission, Dhaka, and corporate offices of Grameenphone, BRAC, and Beximco. Advertising relationships have involved multinational corporations including Unilever, Samsung, Nestlé, and local conglomerates such as Beximco Group and Square Group.

Digital Presence and Multimedia Platforms

The Daily Star expanded into online publishing competing with digital outlets like bdnews24.com, Prothom Alo (online), and The Independent (Bangladesh) (online), while leveraging platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and partnerships with technology companies like Google for initiatives in digital journalism. Multimedia production has engaged video teams covering events at venues such as Suhrawardy Udyan, cultural festivals like Dhaka International Film Festival, and international conferences including UN Climate Change Conferences.

Notable Reporting and Impact

Reporting by the paper has exposed episodes tied to figures and events such as the Bangladesh Bank robbery (2016), the Rohingya crisis, corruption cases involving industrialists and politicians linked to Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh), and human rights issues involving organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Investigations influenced parliamentary inquiries in the Jatiya Sangsad and contributed to public debate alongside coverage from outlets such as The Washington Post and Reuters.

Controversies and Criticism

The Daily Star has faced lawsuits, libel claims, and regulatory scrutiny involving entities like the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, political actors such as Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, and accusations from groups including Bangladesh Police and business conglomerates. Critics from media watchdogs such as Committee to Protect Journalists and academics from University of Dhaka have debated its editorial independence, ownership influence, and relations with state institutions including the Information Ministry (Bangladesh) and oversight bodies like the Bangladesh Press Council.

Category:Newspapers published in Dhaka Category:English-language newspapers published in Bangladesh