‘The Fourth Estate will not survive unless defended’
Martin Moore and Thomas Colley, authors of Dictating Reality: The Global Battle to Control the News (2025), discuss how governments worldwide manipulate the media, reshape public perception, and construct competing realities in an age of digital disinformation. The interview was conducted by Shamsuddoza Sajen of The Daily Star.
2 November 2025, 05:00 AM
‘The Fourth Estate will not survive unless defended’
Martin Moore and Thomas Colley, authors of Dictating Reality: The Global Battle to Control the News (2025), discuss how governments worldwide manipulate the media, reshape public perception, and construct competing realities in an age of digital disinformation. The interview was conducted by Shamsuddoza Sajen of The Daily Star.
2 November 2025, 05:00 AM
Reading power: How everyday texts shaped life under the British Empire
At the heart of Required Reading are forgotten readers from the past.
28 October 2025, 10:46 AM
Opinion / Whom will the Awami League supporters vote for?
The Awami League (AL) is very likely to haunt the entire exercise.
16 October 2025, 03:00 AM
A voice of resistance, progressive thought falls silent
Badruddin Umar, the eminent public intellectual, historian, and political activist, passed away in Dhaka yesterday at the age of 94. He breathed his last at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital, Shyamoli, around 10:05am. He was suffering from old-age complications.
7 September 2025, 18:10 PM
Badruddin Umar speaks / 'We must not lose focus from real political barriers'
Hasina took dynasty politics to levels we could not have ever imagined. What happened to Sheikh Mujib’s former residence was unfortunate. But I would say that Sheikh Hasina is partly responsible for the incident.
7 September 2025, 08:22 AM
The 36th day of July / August 5, 2024: The day the people triumphed
August 5 became a watershed in Bangladesh’s history -- the climactic peak of the July uprising.
4 August 2025, 18:10 PM
The July that rocked Bangladesh / August 4, 2024: The deadliest day of the uprising
August 4, 2024 marked the deadliest day of Bangladesh’s student-led uprising, as the non-cooperation movement entered an explosive new phase.
3 August 2025, 18:08 PM
July 22, 2024: Curfewed Calm, Burning Rage
On July 22, 2024, the nation witnessed a fragile calm after nearly a week of violent unrest. While capital Dhaka saw no fresh clashes on the third day of a strict nationwide curfew, the country continued to grapple with the aftermath.
21 July 2025, 18:24 PM
July 21, 2024: 2nd day of curfew, clashes continue
At least seven people were killed and dozens injured in sporadic clashes between law enforcers and protesters in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi on July 21, 2024 -- the second day of a nationwide curfew.
20 July 2025, 18:12 PM
July 20, 2024: Curfew begins amid rising death toll
The first day of the nationwide curfew, imposed late on the night of July 19, was marked by widespread unrest and violence that left at least 21 people dead and scores injured across Dhaka and other parts of the country.
19 July 2025, 18:18 PM
July 19, 2024: Country descends into deeper crisis
By July 19, 2024, Bangladesh stood at the brink of collapse as the quota reform movement spiralled into its deadliest phase.
18 July 2025, 18:25 PM
July 18, 2024: Deadliest day yet in quota protests
On one of the deadliest days in Bangladesh’s recent history, at least 29 people, including 11 students and a journalist, were killed and over 3,000 injured in violent clashes across the country, as the quota reform protest intensified into a full-scale nationwide uprising on July 18, 2024.
17 July 2025, 18:10 PM
July 17, 2024: Grief turns into defiance
On the public holiday marking Ashura, Dhaka and other parts of the country witnessed unrelenting student protests, road and highway blockades, symbolic funeral prayers, coffin processions, and repeated clashes with police and pro-government activists.
16 July 2025, 18:06 PM
July 16, 2024: Nationwide mayhem leaves 6 dead
July 16, 2024, marked a grim escalation in the quota reform protests as violence swept across Bangladesh, leaving at least six people dead, including three students, and hundreds injured in fierce clashes involving protesters, Chhatra League activists, and police..In Chattogram, three peop
15 July 2025, 18:30 PM
July 15, 2024: Chhatra League attacks quota protesters
Brutal violence descended on July 15, 2024, as activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League launched coordinated attacks on students protesting for reforms in the public service quota system.
14 July 2025, 18:13 PM
July 14, 2024: PM’s remark ignites protests
On July 14, 2024, tensions flared as hundreds of students poured out of their DU dormitories to protest a “disparaging comment” made by then–prime minister Sheikh Hasina regarding quotas in government jobs.
13 July 2025, 18:33 PM
July 13, 2024: Protesters announce march towards Bangabhaban
On July 13, 2024, the Students Against Discrimination announced a fresh set of protest programmes, shifting their strategy from blockades to processions and symbolic marches.
12 July 2025, 18:42 PM
July 12, 2024: No holiday from resistance
Despite the weekly holiday, anti-quota protesters once again blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, demanding reforms to the quota system in government jobs and condemning the police action on students the previous day.
11 July 2025, 18:00 PM
July 11, 2024: Blockade turns confrontational
On July 11, 2024, the anti-quota movement entered a new phase of confrontation. Ignoring police warnings and ministers’ calls to step back, thousands of protesters defied barricades and took to the streets as part of their “Bangla Blockade.”
10 July 2025, 18:09 PM
July 10, 2024: Protesters refuse to back down
July 10, 2024.Protesters refuse to back down.Shamsuddoza Sajen.The protests over the quota system in government jobs showed no signs of slowing down on July 10 as students across the country vowed to continue their movement despite the Supreme Court’s order for a four-week stat
9 July 2025, 18:09 PM
July 9, 2024: A pause before the storm
The ongoing Bangla Blockade paused for a day as students leading the quota reform movement prepared for their next round of protests.
8 July 2025, 18:06 PM
July 8, 2024: Blockade intensifies as students form committee
For the second consecutive day, the Bangla Blockade grips the capital, with thousands of students and jobseekers bringing traffic to a standstill at key intersections across Dhaka.
7 July 2025, 18:10 PM
July 6, 2024: 'Bangla Blockade' announced
Beyond Dhaka, protesters hold the streets with equal resolve
5 July 2025, 18:06 PM
July 5, 2024: Nationwide protests persist despite holiday
Even on a holiday, the quota reform protests show no sign of slowing. Students across Bangladesh take to the streets, block roads, form human chains, and voice their rejection of the reinstated quota system in government jobs.
4 July 2025, 18:11 PM
July 4, 2024: Protesters call for nationwide strike
Defying the rain, they sat on the streets, waving banners and shouting slogans
3 July 2025, 18:13 PM
July 3, 2024: Anti-quota protests spill beyond campuses
The student movement against the reinstatement of the quota system in public service recruitment escalated on July 3, 2024, as demonstrations expanded beyond university campuses to major highways and key city intersections, mounting pressure on the government.
2 July 2025, 18:23 PM
July 2, 2024: Protesters brave rain, warning
Defying rain, warnings, exhaustion, anti-quota protests gained momentum
1 July 2025, 18:05 PM