Mahfuz Anam

Dhaka

Editor, Publisher at The Daily Star (Bangladesh)

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Articles

Stability is the need of the hour

4 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

Contrary actions are very worrisome Several recent developments have forced us to fear that we are on a self-defeating course. The most damaging development refers to the armed forces, especially the army chief. For quite some time, a section of social media influencers have been attacking the army chief and demanding his replacement because he was appointed as the chief of army staff (CAS) by the past regime.
Will the new party spark a new political culture?

1 month ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

The culture of leader above the party and the party above the nation must stop It was quite an experience to be invited by the National Citizen Party (NCP) to attend their inaugural Iftar party last Tuesday. I enjoyed being there. I remembered my own first attendance as a student at a somewhat similar event. It was the 10th National Conference of the East Pakistan Students Union (EPSU), held in the late sixties at the Engineers' Institute.
Editors, don't become PROs of proprietors

1 month ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

How some editors are destroying the editorial institution Having been a journalist since 1972 and an editor-publisher since 1993, it saddens me deeply to see some editors, instead of embellishing, strengthening, and bringing more honour and dignity to their position, are doing the exact opposite: bringing shame, disrepute, and indignity by acting as public relations officers (PROs) of their owners. Editorship is, no doubt, a job.
A new reality for free media

2 months ago | bangladeshchronicle.net | Mahfuz Anam

Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:30 AMLast update on: Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:21 PMBefore, when we spoke the truth, we were countered by the state and its agencies. Now, when we speak the truth, we are countered not by the state, but by lies, accusations without any proof, and tagging on the basis of hate narratives. Outrageous accusations are being made against legacy media without any evidence.
A new reality for free media

2 months ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

We must learn from the past Before, when we spoke the truth, we were countered by the state and its agencies. Now, when we speak the truth, we are countered not by the state, but by lies, accusations without any proof, and tagging on the basis of hate narratives. Outrageous accusations are being made against legacy media without any evidence. In rare cases, when examples are cited, they are either false, taken out of context, distorted, or twisted to suit a predetermined goal.
How the ex-PM used and abused intelligence agencies

2 months ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

We need legal frameworks to prevent their future misuse Two remarkable things happened last Wednesday—the chief advisor visited "Aynaghar" (House of Mirrors), the secret torture cells set up by security and intelligence agencies to confine, interrogate, psychologically break, demoralise, and physically torture a select group of opponents and dissenters whom the political governments of day wanted either eliminated or at least tortured and intimidated into submission.
Reforms vs election: A distracting debate

2 months ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

We need and can have both by the year-end Recently, a debate in our political arena has been clouding our thinking. "No election before reforms" vs "No reforms if it delays the election" has our political players' attention engaged, distracting them from urgent actions. Exchanges between the respective proponents are now getting shriller and acrimonious. The truth is, we need both and can have both within the time frame of December 2025 or January 2026.
Column by Mahfuz Anam: We never got a chance to reform our state and politics like now

Jan 16, 2025 | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

This may turn out to be Prof Muhammad Yunus's most lasting legacy. He gave a chance to the poor to break out of the shackles of poverty through microcredit. He is now giving Bangladesh a chance to break out of all its political, governance, and institutional shackles to march forward with democracy, equality, justice, and tolerance.
What is Indian media’s gain in branding us as a Hindu-hating country?

Dec 5, 2024 | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

The only conclusion that can be drawn from much of the Indian media's recent coverage of Bangladesh is that it is a Hindu-hating country. The venom that is being spewed, the language that is being used, the hatred that is being spread, and the demeaning stereotype that is being portrayed about us seem geared towards generating a hatred for Bangladeshis among the Indian people. The long-term impact of this, along with its backlash here, will be very difficult to neutralise.
The Indian media and Bangladesh-India relations

Nov 21, 2024 | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

There cannot be a stable relationship without deeper understanding As Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus stated, "The Bangladesh-India relationship is deep and multifaceted. We can have our differences but that cannot define it." We have said this many times before and reiterate now that our bilateral relationship must be based on a "win-win" policy, rooted in mutual respect, non-hegemony, and the pursuit of shared prosperity and deeper understanding.