Renewing faith in fair, objective journalism

The Financial Express (FE), Bangladesh's oldest and largest-circulated business daily, steps into the 31st year of its publication today with a renewed commitment to fair and objective journalism.
The FE has been fortunate to receive unwavering support and patronage from its valued readers, contributors, patrons, well-wishers, advertisers, and relevant others during the past three decades.
On this auspicious occasion, we express our deepest gratitude to all of them. Without their support, this newspaper could hardly grow and make relentless effort to achieve its cherished goal of presenting objective and unbiased news and views to its readers. It is up to the readers to judge whether we have been successful in doing so. After 30 years of existence, it will not be out of place to seek such an evaluation. This is all the more necessary to design its future course of action to correct deficiencies, if any.
FE's journey in the past years has not been at all smooth and free from troubles. The individuals who floated the FE included some enlightened and seasoned businesspeople and senior journalists who were well aware of the initial  difficulties the daily would face in securing a firm foothold in the local media world. It would not be out of place to mention with utmost satisfaction that the FE has weathered all odds and carved out a niche market for itself.
But, lately, the situation has turned sour for the newspapers, as crises have hit the economy in quick succession. First came the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic that unsettled life and living on an unprecedented scale. When economies across the world had set themselves in a recovery mode after the retreat of the disease, the Ukraine-Russia conflict came as a bolt from the blue. Every recovery move was upset by disruption to the global supply chain and soaring fuel prices. The war started hurting Bangladesh's economy more than the pandemic. The country's export and remittance earnings took a hit, leading to a serious dearth of the greenback. The government move to restrict imports fueled inflation and forced a cut in industrial production. The rate of inflation started climbing and it is now about to reach a double-digit high. Food inflation is now more-than-a-decade high.
The newspaper industry also could not escape the economic fallout from the pandemic and Ukraine war. And to make things worse, two more troubles -- Hamas-Israel conflict in the Middle East and serious political trouble at home --have emerged lately.
Despite all odds, life must go on. There should be no reason to lose hearts. People can draw inspiration from massive economic gains made in recent years. The nation that could successfully drive out a powerful occupation army and achieve independence in 1971, hopefully, would overcome adversities and put the economy on the right track again. What will be needed most is a proactive role of the policymakers to strengthen major national institutions through meaningful reforms, no matter how painful they are.
In such a situation, the FE celebrates its 30th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the daily will bring out a 120-page special supplement in three equal instalments. The first instalment comes out on the 12th November. The supplement will carry thought-provoking analyses, commentaries and articles on national and global economic, political, social and other contemporary issues. Hopefully, readers will find those useful.