The Daily Star (Bangladesh)

2026-03-31T09:34:46Z

85.255.236.63: added info

{{Short description|English-language daily newspaper in Bangladesh}}
{{about|the daily newspaper in Bangladesh|other uses|Daily Star (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = The Daily Star
| logo = Logo of The Daily Star.svg
| image =
| caption = Front page for 3 August 2022
| type = [[Daily newspaper]]
| format = [[Broadsheet]]
| owners = [[Transcom Group]]
| founder = [[Syed Mohammad Ali]]
| editor = [[Mahfuz Anam]] (Editor)<br /> [[Aasha Mehreen Amin]] (Joint Editor)
| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1991|01|14}}
| language = English
| headquarters = 64–65, [[Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue]], [[Dhaka]]-1215
| circulation = 29,450<ref>{{cite web |script-title=bn:দেশের ইংরেজি ভাষায় প্রকাশিত মিডিয়া তালিকাভুক্ত দৈনিক পত্রিকার প্রচার সংখ্যা ও বিজ্ঞাপন হার |url=https://dfp.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/dfp.portal.gov.bd/page/b5b99e8e_85fe_465d_992c_1fee17302efc/2022-09-08-14-06-6545b8589546aaa92c5c908811f63160.pdf |website=dfp.portal.gov.bd |language=bn |publisher=[[Bangladesh Government]] |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002084240/https://dfp.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/dfp.portal.gov.bd/page/b5b99e8e_85fe_465d_992c_1fee17302efc/2022-09-08-14-06-6545b8589546aaa92c5c908811f63160.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
| ISSN =
| oclc =
| website = {{URL|thedailystar.net}}
}}
'''''The Daily Star''''' is a Bangladeshi English-language daily newspaper. It is by far the largest circulating English-language newspaper in the country.<ref>[http://www.warc.com/LandingPages/Data/NewspaperTrends/PDF/Bangladesh.pdf Newspaper Trends: Bangladesh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319111833/http://www.warc.com/LandingPages/Data/NewspaperTrends/PDF/Bangladesh.pdf |date=19 March 2009 }}, World Advertising Research Center. Retrieved 14 September 2007.</ref> Founded by [[Syed Mohammad Ali|Syed Mohammed Ali]] on 14 January 1991, as Bangladesh transitioned and restored [[parliamentary democracy]],<ref>{{cite news |date=17 October 2007 |title=Remembering Syed Mohammad Ali |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=7686 |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=28 December 2013 |archive-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000108/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=7686 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southbound.com.my/media/ali-cn.htm |title=SM Ali's World |website=Southbound.com.my |access-date=25 December 2016 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104013/http://www.southbound.com.my/media/ali-cn.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> the newspaper became popular for its outspoken coverage of [[Politics of Bangladesh|politics]], corruption, and [[Foreign relations of Bangladesh|foreign policy]]. It is considered a [[newspaper of record]] for Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite book |title=Not All Springs End Winter |first=Anupam Debashis |last=Roy |date=January 2020 |asin=B097ZL8NFW |publisher=Adarsha |quote=Reports on the demands of the students that were published on the Daily Star, often considered Bangladesh's newspaper of record, .... |page=144}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Leslie |last=Sklair |title=The Anthropocene in Global Media: Neutralizing the risk |date=May 2022 |isbn=978-0367641993 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |quote=Bangladesh: The first and most articles (19) appear in The Daily Star, often considered the newspaper of record. |page=}}</ref> The newspaper has been described as having a "reputation for journalistic integrity and liberal and progressive views - a kind of Bangladeshi ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]''".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35594968 |title='Attempt to crush independent media' in Bangladesh |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 February 2016 |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827161839/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35594968 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Mahfuz Anam]] serves as the editor and publisher of ''The Daily Star.'' ''The Daily Star'' is owned by Mediaworld, in which a major share is held by the [[Transcom Group]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transcombd.com/templatecontact.php |title=Welcome to Transcom |website=Transcom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004345/http://www.transcombd.com/templatecontact.php |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> ''Star Business,'' the business edition of the paper, is highly popular. The newspaper serves its Bengali readership digitally through its website.

==History==
In the late 1980s, plans for a major English newspaper in Bangladesh were drawn up by Syed Mohammad Ali and Mahfuz Anam in [[Bangkok]]. Ali previously served as Editor of ''[[The Bangkok Post]]'' in [[Thailand]] and the ''[[Hong Kong Standard]]'' in [[British Hong Kong]]. Anam was working in [[UNESCO]] when he teamed up with Ali to establish a newspaper in Bangladesh. They secured funding from leading Bangladeshi financiers, including Azimur Rahman, A. S. Mahmud, [[Latifur Rahman (businessman)|Latifur Rahman]], A. Rouf Chowdhury and Shamsur Rahman.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/column-mahfuz-anam-snapshots-the-past-thoughts-the-future-2043309 |title=Column by Mahfuz Anam: Snapshots from the past, thoughts for the future |work=The Daily Star |date=12 February 2021 |type=Opinion |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827161839/https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/column-mahfuz-anam-snapshots-the-past-thoughts-the-future-2043309 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The newspaper was set up in 1991, which coincided with Bangladesh's return to parliamentary democracy after 15 years of military rule and presidential government. ''The Daily Star'' gained popularity for its outspoken coverage of politics in Bangladesh, including the rivalry between the [[Awami League]] led by [[Sheikh Hasina]] and the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] (BNP) led by [[Khaleda Zia]]. It became the country's largest circulating English-language newspaper and quickly overtook ''[[The Bangladesh Observer]]'' and ''[[Holiday (newspaper)|Weekly Holiday]]''. It gained a wide readership in [[Dhaka]] and [[Chittagong]], particularly among the urban elites, the business community and the [[List of diplomatic missions in Bangladesh|diplomatic community]].

In 2007, ''The Daily Star'' editor Mahfuz Anam called out army chief General [[Moeen U Ahmed]] for suggesting political reforms, arguing that it was beyond the mandate of the army chief to speak about politics.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2007/04/06/how-can-national-interest-be-served-best |title=How can national interest be served best? |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011143157/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2007/04/06/how-can-national-interest-be-served-best |url-status=live}}</ref> In a widely read commentary titled "This is no way to strengthen democracy", Anam also blasted the military-backed caretaker government for the arrest of Sheikh Hasina in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/no-way-strengthen-democracy-214285 |title=This is no way to strengthen democracy |work=The Daily Star |date=8 February 2016 |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011143157/https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/no-way-strengthen-democracy-214285 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, an [[investigative journalism|investigative report]] by ''The Daily Star'' implicated former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's son [[Tarique Rahman]] and close aides from [[Hawa Bhaban]] in the [[2004 Dhaka grenade attack]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-111469 |title=It was Hawa Bhaban plot |work=The Daily Star |date=26 October 2009 |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011143155/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-111469 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tarique Rahman was later sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the attack.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/bangladesh/2022-04-29/bangladeshs-quiet-slide-autocracy |title=Bangladesh's Quiet Slide into Autocracy |date=29 April 2022 |last1=Riaz |first1=Ali |magazine=Foreign Affairs |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011163040/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/bangladesh/2022-04-29/bangladeshs-quiet-slide-autocracy |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suspended all tender notices and government adverts in ''The Daily Star'' as a pressure tactic because government advertisements generate a significant share of revenue for the newspaper; this suspension was later lifted.<ref name="aj7Oct2015">{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2015/10/7/bangladeshi-spies-accused-of-blocking-media-adverts |title=Bangladeshi spies accused of blocking media adverts |work=Al Jazeera |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817111348/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2015/10/7/bangladeshi-spies-accused-of-blocking-media-adverts |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2021, following the release of the documentary ''[[All the Prime Minister's Men]]'' by [[Al Jazeera Investigations]], the newspaper treated it with skepticism, while also commending the government for not trying to block the report from being viewed from within the country as the newspaper considered such measures to be no longer effective.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Analysis |first=Star |date=2021-02-04 |title=Saw all, heard all; what will we do? |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/saw-all-heard-all-what-will-we-do-2038773 |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-03 |title=Our take on the Al Jazeera Report |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/editorial/news/our-take-the-al-jazeera-report-2038485 |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, a commentary by Mahfuz Anam criticized army chief General [[Aziz Ahmed (general)|Aziz Ahmed]] for controversial remarks in which Aziz suggested that criticizing the army chief was tantamount to criticizing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/column-mahfuz-anam-some-comments-require-clarification-2047417 |title=Column by Mahfuz Anam: Some comments require clarification |work=The Daily Star |date=19 February 2021 |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011143155/https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/column-mahfuz-anam-some-comments-require-clarification-2047417 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 22 April 2022, Anam wrote a commentary titled "Can we really have a free and fair election?" in which he lamented [[Democratic backsliding in Bangladesh|Bangladesh's democratic backsliding]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anam |first=Mahfuz |date=2022-04-22 |title=Commentary by Mahfuz Anam: Can we really have a free and fair election? |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/can-we-really-have-free-and-fair-election-3009631 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Throughout 2022 and 2023, Anam wrote a series of articles on the importance of free and fair elections, press freedom, the [[Digital Security Act]] (which was repealed), the role of the bureaucracy, political history, political parties and the [[Bangladesh Election Commission]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-01 |title=Mahfuz Anam |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/author/mahfuz-anam |access-date=2024-03-01 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Anam |first=Mahfuz |date=2022-07-29 |title=CEC hits the nail on the head, but the wrong nail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/cec-hits-the-nail-the-head-the-wrong-nail-3082041 |access-date=2024-03-01 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Anam |first=Mahfuz |title=Column by Mahfuz Anam: Why are there so many laws against free media? |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/why-are-there-so-many-laws-against-free-media-3027426 |work=The Daily Star |date=20 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Anam |first=Mahfuz |date=2023-01-27 |title=Column by Mahfuz Anam: Who runs the country? |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/the-third-view/news/column-mahfuz-anam-who-runs-the-country-3231371 |access-date=2024-03-01 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Anam |first=Mahfuz |date=2024-02-02 |title=Column by Mahfuz Anam: Death of the opposition in parliament |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/the-third-view/news/column-mahfuz-anam-death-the-opposition-parliament-3533876 |access-date=2024-03-01 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> After the [[July Revolution (Bangladesh)|July Revolution]], the newspaper continued placing a critical lens on the policies of the [[Interim government of Muhammad Yunus|interim government]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |date=19 December 2025 |title=Bangladesh newspaper staff 'gasping for air' as offices set ablaze |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2462r82864o |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=www.bbc.com}}</ref>

=== 2025 Vandalism ===
During the [[December 2025 Bangladesh violence]], ''The Daily Star'' office was vandalized and set on fire by violent mobs, as unrest over the death of [[Osman Hadi|Sharif Osman Hadi]], one of the founders and the leader of the political platform, [[Inqilab Moncho]], escalated late on the night of 18 December 2025. On the midnight of 19 December, a mob of 100-200 people broke through the main gate of the building. The individuals stayed until 4:30 AM. According to witnesses, protesters blocked a Fire Service vehicle when it attempted to reach the office to extinguish the fire, forcing it to retreat. At least 28 journalists and office staff reportedly took shelter on the rooftop until they were evacuated after getting trapped for four hours. Firefighters brought the blaze under control.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=Prothom Alo, The Daily Star offices vandalised, set on fire; all trapped staff evacuated |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/fire-daily-star-doused-trapped-staff-rescued-prothom-alo-building-still-fire-1313526 |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=The Daily Star office attacked, vandalised after Hadi’s death |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/the-daily-star-office-attacked-vandalised-after-hadis-death-4061946 |url-status=live |work=The Daily Star}}</ref>

As a result, the newspaper was unable to publish its print edition the next day, the first such instance in the newspaper's history.<ref name="BBC" /> The Daily Star dubbed the incident "a dark day for independent journalism" and blamed the government's "relaxed attitude towards the safety and security of news outlets."<ref>{{Cite news |title=A DARK DAY FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/dark-day-independent-journalism-4061941 |url-status=live |work=The Daily Star}}</ref> European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller called the attack a "terrible moment" for Bangladesh's democracy.<ref>{{Cite news |title=‘Terrible moment’ for Bangladesh’s democracy: EU ambassador terms attacks on The Daily Star, Prothom Alo |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/terrible-moment-bangladeshs-democracy-eu-ambassador-terms-attacks-the-daily-star-prothom-alo-4063221 |url-status=live |work=The Daily Star}}</ref> [[Mahfuz Anam]] claimed that the attack was a "deliberate attempt" to take lives.<ref>{{Cite news |title=We have entered an 'era of murder,' says Mahfuz Anam |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/mob-wanted-murder-daily-star-staff-not-just-burn-building-mahfuz-anam-1316186 |url-status=live |work=The Business Standard}}</ref> The [[Islami Andolan Bangladesh|Islami Andolon Bangladesh]] (IAB) condemned the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-25 |title=IAB condemns attack on Star |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/iab-condemns-attack-star-4065811 |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

==Staff==
Only two years after launching the newspaper, SM Ali died and a young Anam, who was Ali's protege, became the editor of the fledgling daily. As editor and publisher, Anam has been widely credited for steering the paper's editorial independence. Financial affairs are overseen by a six-member board of directors of the [[holding company]] Mediaworld Limited. [[Syed Fahim Munaim]] was the CEO and Managing Editor of the newspaper for many years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-08-02 |title=A Tribute To Syed Fahim Munaim |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/lifestyle/tribute-syed-fahim-munaim-1262803 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Munaim was credited for ensuring the financial independence of the paper.

Ahead of the 2024 general election in Bangladesh, the paper hired several pro-BNP journalists and writers, took an aggressively pro-BNP editorial stance, and strongly criticized the ruling Awami League. The election ended up being boycotted by the BNP amid allegations of a lack of a conducive environment for holding elections.

In 2023, Anam was appointed chairman of the holding company of The Daily Star after the death of longstanding chairperson [[Rokeya Afzal Rahman]]. Syed Ashfaqul Haque, who worked in both management and the newsroom for 31 years, was appointed as Executive Editor. [[Aasha Mehreen Amin]], the granddaughter of Pakistan's last Bengali premier [[Nurul Amin]], serves as the Joint Editor while S.S. Preetha is head of the [[Op-Ed]] section, which was previously headed by [[Zafar Sobhan]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2009/11/letter-south-asia-columns/state-shock.html |title=State of Shock |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=14 March 2009}}</ref> Amin continues to wield significant influence over commentaries and Op-Eds. Amin previously ran the paper's defunct ''Star'' magazine supplement. Mizanur Rahman, the Head of Operations, and Tajdin Hasan, the Chief Business Officer, are the two other key leaders of the newspaper.

==Controversies==
In recent years, the paper has complained of growing restrictions on [[press freedom]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/bangladesh-press-council-the-protector-turning-predator-3103026 |title=Bangladesh Press Council: Is the protector turning into a 'predator'? |work=The Daily Star |date=26 August 2022 |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827161841/https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/bangladesh-press-council-the-protector-turning-predator-3103026 |url-status=live}}</ref> It also faced pressure from the government which affected its ad revenues.<ref name="aj7Oct2015" />

===Lawsuits from Awami League and BNP members===
[[PEN America]] strongly criticized the lawsuits filed against Mahfuz Anam, including as many as 83 lawsuits and 30 counts of criminal defamation lodged by members and supporters of the [[Awami League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pen.org/press-release/bangladesh-defamation-charges-against-editor-representative-of-broader-attacks-on-media/ |title=Bangladesh: Defamation Charges Against Editor Representative of Broader Attacks on Media |date=February 18, 2016 |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827161839/https://pen.org/press-release/bangladesh-defamation-charges-against-editor-representative-of-broader-attacks-on-media/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] government in the 2000s, Anam faced defamation lawsuits from ruling BNP leaders. He was co-accused with [[Matiur Rahman (journalist)|Matiur Rahman]], editor of the Bengali newspaper ''[[Prothom Alo]]'', in defamation cases filed by [[Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury]]. Anam was represented in court by [[Kamal Hossain]].

===DGFI leaks===
In 2016, speaking at a panel discussion on [[ATN News]], [[Mahfuz Anam]] admitted that ''The Daily Star'' ran stories fed to the newspaper by military intelligence outfit [[DGFI]] during the military-backed state of emergency and caretaker government in 2007 and 2008. The stories accused Awami League and BNP leaders of corruption.<ref name="bdnews24.com">{{cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/media-en/2016/02/04/daily-star-editor-mahfuz-anam-admits-to-publishing-dgfi-fed-baseless-stories |title=Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam admits to publishing DGFI-fed baseless stories |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=28 October 2016 |archive-date=5 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405224816/http://bdnews24.com/media-en/2016/02/04/daily-star-editor-mahfuz-anam-admits-to-publishing-dgfi-fed-baseless-stories |url-status=live}}</ref> A string of lawsuits were filed against Anam following his admission.

===Website blocked===
The newspaper's website was briefly blocked on 1 June 2018 after it reported the [[Extrajudicial killing|extrajudicial]] [[killing of Ekramul Haque]] by members of the [[Rapid Action Battalion]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Star blocked, unblocked |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/star-blocked-unblocked-1585441 |work=The Daily Star |date=3 June 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823141901/https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/star-blocked-unblocked-1585441 |url-status=live}}</ref> The killing took place while the victim was speaking with his family on the phone. The [[Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission]] (BTRC) did not give any explanation for the block.

===Child abuse by staff===
In February 2024, Executive Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque and his wife Tania Khondoker were sent to jail after they surrendered to a court in Dhaka, following the death of a fifteen year old female maid at their house in [[Mohammadpur Thana]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-13 |title=Preeti Urang's death: 4-day remand granted for The Daily Star executive editor, wife |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/death-teenage-maid-daily-star-executive-editor-wife-4-day-remand-792314 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Journalist Ashfaqul, wife Tania land in jail over death of domestic worker |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/sva55vu6zp |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}}</ref> Haque and his wife faced charges of [[child abuse]]. The deceased maid was a teenage girl named Preeti Urang who worked as a servant in the house of the executive editor. Urang hailed from a tea garden worker's family in [[Moulvibazar District]]. Protests were held demanding justice for the girl's death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-12 |title=Demand for justice grows as tea workers protest domestic worker Preeti's death |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/tea-workers-demand-justice-death-preeti-urang-daily-star-executive-editors-home |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Daily Star urged to take action against Ashfaq |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/225591/daily-star-urged-to-take-action-against-ashfaq |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=New Age |language=en}}</ref> The newspaper issued a formal apology over the incident.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-16 |title=Editor's note to readers |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/editors-note-readers-3544871 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

===Simin-Shahzreh case fraud news propagation===
In December 2024, Simin Rahman of [[Transcom Group]] was accused by his younger sister of embezzling her deceased father's shares through non-judicial stamp fraud.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/1435990.details | title=ট্রান্সকমের দলিল জালিয়াতি | date=6 December 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/780815 | title=Forgery in Transcom documents | date=December 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/rjsc-papers-doctored-with-fake-stamps | title=RJSC papers doctored with fake stamps }}</ref> On 18 May 2025, investigative reporter Elias Hossain published a report on [[YouTube]], stating that Simin Rahman was unethically assisted by Prothom Alo editor [[Matiur Rahman (journalist)|Matiur Rahman]] and Daily Star's [[Mahfuz Anam]] in this matter along with doing false news reports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=জনকণ্ঠ |first=দৈনিক |title=তিন মাসের অনুসন্ধান শেষ করেছে টিম ফিফটিন মিনিটস: ইলিয়াস হোসেন |url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/national/news/799054 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=দৈনিক জনকণ্ঠ {{!}}{{!}} [[Daily Janakantha]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&si=qwYa7_ExnrBkF0Mo&v=N4LuENYYAzc&feature=youtu.be |title=এ যেন কেয়ামতের আলামত! #elias_hossain |date=2025-05-18 |author=Elias Hossain |access-date=2025-05-21 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=জালিয়াতি করে ৩০ হাজার কোটি টাকার সম্পদ কব্জা করেন ট্রান্সকমের সিমিন {{!}} Transcom {{!}} Prothom alo |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=qmImcso3mnKZKZSg&v=b-4haeqscZU&feature=youtu.be |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] YouTube page |date=17 December 2024}}</ref> [[Zulkarnain Saer Khan]] also criticised Matiur Rahman [[Mahfuz Anam]] for involving in this matter, as well as [[Prothom Alo]] and the Daily Star for propagating false news in support of it.<ref>{{cite news |title=সিমিন রহমানের ট্রান্সকম গ্রুপকে মাফিয়া বললেন সাংবাদিক জুলকারনাইন |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/national/2025/01/30/1474801 |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] |date=30 January 2025}}</ref>

==''Star Weekend'' magazine==
[[File:Star magazine.jpg|thumb|upright|Cover of 1 February 2008]]
Starting in May 1996, ''The Daily Star'' published a weekly magazine supplement titled '''''The Star''''' every Friday. [[Aasha Mehreen Amin]] was the first editor of the magazine and continued in that capacity for 18 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Amin |first1=Aasha Mehreen |author-link=Aasha Mehreen Amin |date=29 November 2019 |title=Why we need weekend magazines |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/news/why-we-need-weekend-magazines-1833130 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605063055/https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/news/why-we-need-weekend-magazines-1833130 |url-status=live |quote=Hard as it is to accept it, the ''Star Weekend'' magazine is about to close the curtain after an impressive run of 23 years.}}</ref> ''The Star'' became '''''Star Weekend'''''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hossain |first1=Anika |date=5 June 2015 |title=Saying Goodbye |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/saying-goodbye-92086 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605063056/https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/saying-goodbye-92086 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Elita Karim]] was the magazine's editor from 2015 to 2017. ''Star Weekend'' ceased publication on 29 November 2019, as ''The Daily Star'' downsized to adapt to a changing media landscape.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Preetha |first1=Sushmita S. |date=29 November 2019 |title=Change is the only constant |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/news/editors-longform-1833082 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605063107/https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/news/editors-longform-1833082 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== E-Reading ==
Starting from early 2026 , Daily Star notified users that after a decade of offering free e-paper news , it would be moving towards a paid subscription model . However the website remains free of cost .<ref>{{Cite web |title=TheDailyStar.net - User Portal |url=https://profile.thedailystar.net/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fepaper.thedailystar.net%2FHome%2FArticleView |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260226010034/https://profile.thedailystar.net/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fepaper.thedailystar.net%2FHome%2FArticleView |archive-date=2026-02-26 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=profile.thedailystar.net}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of newspapers in Bangladesh]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|thedailystar.net}}
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{Newspapers of Bangladesh}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daily Star}}
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1991]]
[[Category:English-language newspapers published in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Dhaka]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in Bangladesh]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

The Daily Star (Bangladesh)