A new, bold online journey

The Daily Star today launched a new-look, state-of-the-art website to cater better its audience offering them to discover more.

The launching coincided with the newspaper's 24th anniversary it is celebrating with a call to nurture impartial journalism to move forward to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

Rokia Afzal Rahman, the chairperson of Mediaworld Limited, the owning company of The Daily Star, thanked the readers for being with the newspaper's journey to uphold people's right to know and a free media.

The Daily Star hosted a reception at the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on the occasion, sharing the joy of its success with hundreds of readers, patrons and well-wishers, who showered the Star family with admiration and encouragement.

A galaxy of personalities including politicians, academics, diplomats, businesspersons, journalists, art luminaries, celebrities and civil society members attended the function, making the anniversary celebration remarkable.

Welcoming the guests to the event, Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, reiterated the newspaper's mission of keeping the people informed, without fear or favour, "with total commitment to serve our beloved Bangladesh".

"Today we celebrate this paper's 24 years of service to the people of Bangladesh through "Journalism without Fear or Favour" based on the fundamental belief that free and independent media is the best guarantor of democracy, fundamental freedoms and welfare of the Nation," said Anam.

Stressing the need to ensure a free press, he said: "A free press is the fundamental prerequisite for democracy, development and economic growth. It is the prerequisite to the success of the agenda of the government.

"You cannot fight corruption without a free press," Anam said, adding Bangladesh needs free press for its growth to become a middle-income country.

REVAMPED WEBSITE

The new website presents a range of new features which include print-plus contents, meaning additional contents like video, audio and documents which do not come with print version of the newspaper, multimedia stories produced by Star journalists, interactive infographics, and special online production on key national and international issues.

Besides serving its readers round the clock, the new website offers smooth reading on all digital device, be it desktop, laptop, mobile phones or pad.

For smooth reading, website loads gradually as the readers browse.

A revamped mobile phone app is also launched simultaneously. The readers will be alerted through push notifications whenever there is any major news. It also allows reading chached contents even if the readers are offline.

Born at the fall of autocracy in 1991, The Daily Star aimed to encompass the spirit of the moment stemming from the rebirth of democracy, and the values of our Liberation War with all its glory.

From the very beginning the paper pledged to be an objective and independent voice for democracy, fundamental freedoms, human rights, minority rights, gender equity and freedom of expression, including and especially freedom of media, the editor said.

"We also pledged to support the process of economic growth through a market-based, competitive and private sector-driven economy," said the editor.