Fri 14 Mar 2008
Daily Star four years ago after US human rights report on Bangladesh was published in 2004:
On the wrong side of Human Rights, again
Govt. did not listen when we reported the same facts, will it listen now?
Full editorial
Daily Star in 2008 after a similar report on Bangladesh got published
US’ critique on our human rights situation
We note their points but should they not look at themselves?
Full editorial
Journalism without fear or favour!?
March 14th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
he’s just an information business man, not a prophet. can’t see why peeps have such expectations.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
What I got from the editorial is he acknowledged the HR violations in BD but also pointed out the hypocrisy of US in creating such reports. NOthing wrong with that.
March 16th, 2008 at 1:00 am
This ‘hypocrisy’ argument, what is the point? The US is involved in HR abuses so whatever it says about other countries doesn’t count? Does it change the HR record under the army? No. It’s interesting how supporters of this regime are sceptical about any negative report coming out now but are happy to use old Trasparency Internatial Reports as the last word.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Here is a different story about Daily Star.
A confidential letter in Bangla states:
“Following your suggestion, a company has been formed with some owners of private organizations to provide financial assistance to the Daily Star.
You are requested to ensure that considerable supporters of Jatiya Party are inducted under the new company.
Besides, concerned department of the Ministry of Information has been ordered to allocate the biggest share of advertisement quota to this newspaper.
You are entrusted with the task of keeping any eye on projection of our party policies in the paper, as committed by the newspaper management. You are requested to submit a report three moths after the publication of the newspaper.
Want to now who wrote this letter? President Ershad. Writing to whom? The then Prime Minister Kazi Jafar Ahmed on 17th November 1990. (Source: Weekly Khoborer Kagoj, 27 December 1990)
Ershad was brought down by a mass upsurge on 6th December, and the Daily Star was born soon after. Call it change of side? Bangladesh media are master of changing sides overnight. Just wait to see that happening again.
March 16th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
The letter is bogus.
First of all, Heads of State in Bangladesh do not ‘write’ to their Ministers on such confidential matters (foolishly keeping a record for Khoborer Kagoj and others). They simply call up the Minister and ‘order’ them to carry out the task.
5 promoter directors of equal shareholdings formed Mediaworld Limited which set up The Daily Star. They were:
(a) Abu Sayed Mahmud
(b) Latifur Rahman
(c) Rauf Chowdhury
(d) Shamsur Rahman
(e) Azimur Rahman
Abu Sayed Mahmud was the founder Managing Director of Mediaworld Limited and the Publisher/Printer of the The Daily Star. Party affiliation, if any, of all the five promoter/directors is common knowledge. None of them ever were Jatiya Party members, but Ershad did help in setting up the newspaper as he did in many other instances in his support for the private sector. Some of these redeeming features of Ershad were never acknowledged either by that paper, or by our sanctimonious Sushil Shamaj.
Farhad
March 16th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
WillyWonka, where did you see in the comments that denied HR abuse happening or ‘does not count’ ?
Its also sad when things are labelled pro/anti ctg on everything.
March 16th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
E.H.
THe question is why didn’t he see the hypocrisy in the US stand reporting 4 years ago. Why suddenly so defensive this year?
March 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Dear Mr. Farhad,
Why assume, just check if this letter exists with the PMO or not. Don’t be so dismissive, so easily.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
8. mydearbangladesh
The letter doesn’t exist. It is bogus.
Ershad, with all his faults, wasn’t stupid.
Farhad
March 18th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Mr. Anam is on the board of TIB. Of course he has his agendas.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:31 am
Dear Mr. Farhad,
I’ve a copy of that letter and authenticity of it is confirmed. If you have problem accepting this, that’s fine, don’t say next time your existence is also bogus!
March 21st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
# 11 mydearbangladesh
Would love to see a copy of this ‘authentic’ letter as I am sure many more of us ignorant public would too. Do us a good deed by posting it.
Farhad
March 24th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
MyDearBangladesh has sent us the following image which he claims as scanned copy of the letter.
Copy of the letter from 1990