Letter to Readers
Our story, our pledge
Fifteen years can be a small blip in the history of time, but not so for a newspaper in today's Bangladesh. As we cross that important mark and look back, we feel how tumultuous and challenging a journey it was. And yet we have been able to chart that choppy water in quest of truth only because of you -- the readers who would bear with us day after day, the patrons who kept supporting us generously and the well-wishers who would support us in more than one way. With you all, we coasted along and we have sown the seed of ethical journalism.In a throwback to the beginning of the journey, we today feel what an important time it was for us to lurch into action. After a long, Dark Age of autocracy, Bangladesh had just emerged into a democratic environ. Arguably the most important general elections in the history of Bangladesh was about to take place. The institutions that work for democracy and the economy were in ramshackle conditions. Nothing could be a better time for a free, objective and independent newspaper to look at events and processes with a new air. And we did it. In the unaccustomed minds of many, our independent journalism without fear and favour immediately imprinted a deep mark. They welcomed us, supported us, helped us, encouraged us, held our hand firmly to take us even further. Our grateful thanks are for them. There had been foes too who were shocked by our unfazed determination to reveal the truth, to tell the story. They had attempted to mow us down, to trounce our efforts. They did not succeed and here we are. It is another crucial juncture of time when we cross our 15 years in existence. We face another challenge as dark clouds gather in the political horizon. It is a disquiet time for us all who believe in democracy, peace and prosperity. This is the time when we have to, and we promise we will, play our objective, analytical and independent role as we have played before to reflect reasoning and values. We will fight for every inch of democracy and free thinking. We will raise the loudest voice to speak for protecting human rights and secular ideals. Our vision will be to promote, through our news and views, a society that will oppose accumulation of ill-gotten wealth and corruption that gnaw away at the very fabrics of democracy. We will speak for a tolerant society free in ideas. We believe Bangladesh will show to the world that it can perform and achieve feats not dared by others, and The Daily Star will be there all the way to see dreams come true. Our resolve on this very special day is that we will bring a more vibrant air to journalism in Bangladesh. May the new year of our journey give us that strength. We will tell the Story. -- Editor
|
|
