Editorial Views
When lamp of journalism flickers in Dark
During May 1999, I was enrolled as a student at Jahangirnagar University, and Prothom Alo, a newspaper that had graced the newsstands merely twelve months prior, had already established itself as an integral component of our daily morning routine. At that time, I served as the university correspondent for the daily publication Sangbad. Nevertheless, each morning I would proceed to the common room of my residential hall, frequently waiting for my opportunity to peruse Prothom Alo.
How might AI technology serve as catalyst for global peace?
An extraordinary occurrence transpired within the chambers of the United Nations Security Council. Sam Altman, Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, and Dario Amodei, Chief Executive Officer of Anthropic—executives representing two organizations that maintain intense competitive rivalry within the artificial intelligence sector—articulated their perspectives utilizing remarkably congruent terminology.
Bangladesh on global map of AI misuse
Our discussion of artificial intelligence usually gets stuck at two extremes. At one end is the story of limitless possibilities: more jobs, easier access to services, and faster national development. At the other is the fear of a distant future—whether machines will one day surpass humans. What receives far less attention is the space in between: who is using AI to cause harm today, and how. The information needed to answer that question largely sits on the servers of technology companies. Unless they choose to disclose it, the rest of us know very little.
The darkness media never dares to look into
Today, I wish to share a narrative regarding a darkness that the media in Bangladesh is hesitant to confront. It is a realm afflicted by exploitation, disdain, and humiliation, yet none of the nation’s prominent editors, tenacious investigative journalists, esteemed columnists, or well-known talk-show commentators appear capable of addressing its suffering.
Journalism: Creative or cursed profession?
A new discussion has emerged regarding whether journalism qualifies as a creative profession. Two significant questions have surfaced in this context. The first is, what criteria will be established for state acknowledgment as a professional journalist? The second is, will journalists be regarded as professionals akin to lawyers, teachers, doctors, and engineers, or will they be viewed as specialized 'creative individuals' similar to writers, poets, and artists? In addition to these two inquiries, another pressing question arises: is journalism a cursed profession?
Please, save our children
For those of us who work in the newsroom, writing and editing news daily, reports of death are quite manageable. Furthermore, news concerning ten other subjects often condenses into a single report. Natural deaths seldom make headlines unless a prominent individual passes away, prompting extensive coverage. Accompanying these death reports are numerous condolence messages, with lengthy fifty-sentence tributes added to ten-sentence news articles. From the multitude of condolence messages received, a selection must be made, considering the word count limitations.
Who bears the responsibility for this disgrace?
To begin with, the politicians in our nation are accountable for this disgrace. I will refrain from naming any particular party; the primary responsibility for child abuse in Bangladesh rests with the senior leaders of all political factions. However, it is shameful that they neither take nor acknowledge this responsibility. I am attributing blame to politicians in light of the rape and murder of child Ramisa in Mirpur. The immediate response to this might be, 'Will politicians go from door to door to protect children?' In a civilized political framework, there is no necessity for politicians to go door to door to safeguard children; if educated and aware individuals with a sense of civic duty and state customs are nurtured, they will become the guardians of their own moral compass. Another response might be, do educated individuals not commit crimes? Certainly, they do; however, genuinely educated individuals do not resort to violence, whether physical or verbal. This is our misfortune, a disgraceful failure on the part of our politicians. The education system in Bangladesh could arguably be considered one of the most inadequate education systems globally at this time.
‘Thucydides Trap’: Fall of United States and rise of China
Ultimately, Trump was compelled to travel to Beijing. The US president, who was consistently losing allies in the realm of global politics, found himself with no alternative.
Third Terminal: An Unnecessary Tk48 crore project for 'Two-a-penny'?
Given that the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is responsible for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the management of the Third Terminal project, their involvement has garnered significant media attention.
Collusion to undermine the online bus ticketing system!
Arafat Siddiqui, an officer at BBC Media Action, purchased a ticket from Hanif Paribahan via shohoz.com on March 15 for a trip scheduled at 9:30 pm to Naogaon on March 19. However, at 8 am on March 19, he received a notification from Shojhod.com indicating that Hanif Paribahan had canceled the trip.