PHOTO: KAZI TAHSIN AGAZ APURBO

On the auspicious occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations of The Daily Star's journey, we have immense pleasure to launch a special supplement series beginning today. 

The five-part four-colour well-illustrated publication series comprise 224 pages with the first four supplements containing 48-page each, and the last containing 32 pages. 

The first part of the series which appears today is titled Engines of Growth; and the second, third, fourth and fifth are set to appear on February 2, 3, 4 and 5 under titles Strengthening Pillars of Economy; Services and Quality of Life; Climate, Women and Sustainable Development; and Way Forward, respectively.

In the politically turbulent world of today global attention span has switched on to connectivity, trade, growth and development parameters of human affairs. Overall, national economies of emerging countries have attained a primacy not only with the individual governments but also with the global community in an increasingly interdependent economic context. 

Bangladesh is favourably poised with its sustained six percent plus GDP growth rate, fulfillment of MDGs ahead of schedule and confidently stepping into SDGs to be a dynamic co-traveler with the emerging economies. For it to move to the coveted next higher stage, her huge untapped potential for growth will have to be utilised with the right policy mix backed by resonant political will. 

All this sets the scene for us to adopt a common theme for the supplement series 2016 styled On High Road to Progress.

Eminent professionals, experts, planners and practitioners in different spheres of economy, enterprise and development have enriched the supplements with their inputs, analyses and insightful contributions. We are grateful to them for making it possible for us to put together a body of text that is well-researched, lively and forward-looking in the values it adds to the publications.

We will consider our efforts rewarded if the supplements should provide tools for informed judgments and decision-making at the policy-making level. On a popular plane, we have tried to offer joyful but enlightening reading on topics such as sports, lifestyle, culture with delectable inclusions on tourism and branding. 

On this celebratory occasion, we take the opportunity of gratefully recalling the services of the leading lights but for whom we would not be where we are now. They are S. M. Ali, our Founder Editor; Azimur Rahman, Founding Chairman; A. S. Mahmud, Founding Managing Director; Media World; and Founding Managing Editor Taufique Aziz Khan who are no more today. 

Indeed, it has been a long journey of progressive ascent through teamwork; professional leadership; good, honest journalism; and the Board's enlightening disposition to editorial independence.

A word of appreciation for my colleagues, the Team Daily Star whose unflagging zeal and commitment to independent and fair journalism made it possible for the paper to move from strength to strength to carve the niche it has.

A final word of gratitude and sincere thanks to our readers, patrons and advertisers but for whose robust support we would not have come to where we have. 

Mahfuz Anam
Editor and Publisher