Mahfuz Anam

Dhaka

Editor, Publisher at The Daily Star (Bangladesh)

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Articles

The elephant in the room no one is talking about

3 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

Reform of political parties is of urgent need Since Prof Muhammad Yunus took over as the head of the interim government, reforms have been very high on the national agenda. The whole country wants it. What is heartening is that even political parties, who are usually opposed to anything that does not originate from them, have worked closely with all the reform commissions and are now engaged in reaching a consensus.
Unhealthy election controversy must be resolved

3 weeks ago | bangladeshchronicle.net | Mahfuz Anam

The Daily StarFri Apr 18, 2025 12:30 AMLast update on: Fri Apr 18, 2025 08:35 AMThe eagerly awaited meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and the BNP ended, as expected, with a major difference of opinion on the election dates. The CA stuck to his well-known stance that the election will be held anytime between December 2025 and June 2026, and the BNP stuck to its position that the polls must be held by the end of this year.
Unhealthy election controversy must be resolved

4 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahfuz Anam

It is creating uncertainty, suspicion, and discord The eagerly awaited meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and the BNP ended, as expected, with a major difference of opinion on the election dates. The CA stuck to his well-known stance that the election will be held anytime between December 2025 and June 2026, and the BNP stuck to its position that the polls must be held by the end of this year.
Stability is the need of the hour

1 month 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?

2 months 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

2 months 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

Feb 13, 2025 | 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

Jan 30, 2025 | 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.