‘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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
3 August 2025, 18:08 PM
Indian MPs want military action
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said in parliament today that the possibility of a political settlement in East Pakistan was “becoming more remote” every day.
14 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Yahya delays plan for power transfer
Pakistan President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan postponed the announcement of his plan for the transfer of power to a civilian government. The president, who rules by martial authority, said May 24 that he would announce the plan in two to three weeks’ time.
13 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Our victory is assured: Tajuddin
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad said today that the refugees now in India were keen on coming back home.
12 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh issue will linger: Indira Gandhi
The United States appealed today to India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and urged the Pakistanis to restore normalcy in East Pakistan through “peaceful political accommodation”.
11 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Spike in guerilla attacks
Mukti Fouj guerillas made a series of attacks on Pakistani positions in Cumilla sector in the last few days, killing at least 28 Pakistani soldiers, according to Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. Twenty soldiers were killed when guerillas ambushed a Pakistani army column near Fakirhat on June 10, 1971.
10 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Tikka Khan offers general amnesty
The Pakistani Government offered today a general amnesty extending to military deserters and politicians and asked refugees to return home.
9 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Operation Hotel InterContinental
Commandos of the Crack Platoon today launched an attack at InterContinental Dhaka. The commandos, armed with grenades, bayonets, and submachine guns, stopped in a car in front of the hotel. Five grenades were thrown in the attack which took place between 7:45pm and 8:00pm.
8 June 2021, 18:00 PM
UK refuses aid to Pakistan
The reported statement of Pakistan President Yahya Khan that he would take “genuine refugees” back into Pakistan met with sharp reaction from the Bangladesh government today.
7 June 2021, 18:00 PM
2 largest currency denominations withdrawn
The Pakistani government removed from circulation today part of the nation’s currency in an effort to check the economic effects of looting from banks in East Pakistan.
6 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Pakistan is dead: Syed Nazrul
Syed Nazrul Islam, acting president of Bangladesh, today spelt out four preconditions for a political settlement of the Bangladesh issue. In a 45-minute broadcast from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra,
5 June 2021, 18:00 PM
A conversation with Yahya Khan
In a telegram sent to the US State Department on June 5, 1971, US Ambassador in Pakistan Joseph Farland provided a detailed account of his conversation with Pakistan President Yahya Khan. The meeting was held on the same day.
4 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Effort to form new party
Pakistan and the United Nations agreed on relief operations for victims of the war in East Pakistan, a UN spokesman announced today.
3 June 2021, 18:00 PM
East Pakistan will eventually become independent: Kissinger
A conversation was held on June 3, 1971 between US Ambassador to India Kenneth Keating, Assistant to the US President Henry Kissinger and NSC staff Harold Saunders about the situation of East Pakistan.
2 June 2021, 18:00 PM
No room for compromise with Pakistan: Tajuddin
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad categorically declared today that “there is no room for compromise (with West Pakistan) within the framework of Pakistan”.
1 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh delegation addresses Indian parliament
The Provisional Government of Bangladesh today ruled out any political settlement with the West Pakistanis. Home Minister AM Kamaruzzaman issued a statement to the press which categorically rejected President Yahya Khan’s offer of an amnesty. It’s a fight to the finish, he said.
31 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Bhashani rules out any political settlement
Rejecting straightway the proposals for a political settlement of the issues involved in the present revolt against Yahya Khan in Bangladesh.
30 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Transcript of Dhaka massacre
Evidence became available which appeared to confirm that the Pakistan Army’s operations in Dhaka on March 25 were part of a well-organised plan devised to terrorise the inhabitants into submission.
29 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Battle of Bhomra
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad said he failed to understand how the democratic governments of the world could support the dictatorial regime of Pakistan, which was crushing the democratic aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.
28 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Nixon asks India, Pakistan to show maximum restraint
In a letter dated May 28, 1971, American President Richard Nixon urged Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to continue to act with maximum restraint.
27 May 2021, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh legislators plead for recognition
Pledges of $2.5 million by the United States and $2.4 million by Britain were the first by governments for a fund for East Pakistani refugees in India, the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees announced today.
26 May 2021, 18:00 PM