Dhaka, Dec 20: Leading Bangladeshi newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star came under violent attack amid unrest triggered by anti-India protests following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, in what journalists are calling one of the darkest days for the country’s independent media.
According to Prothom Alo, a mob first reached its Karwan Bazar office around 11.15 pm Thursday, clashing with police before taking control of the premises for nearly 90 minutes, chanting slogans and issuing threats to burn the paper and assault staff. Attackers then smashed glass, broke shutters, stormed the four-storey building, vandalised offices, destroyed CCTV and firefighting systems, and looted every floor, making off with over 150 computers and laptops, lockers, cash and even books from the in-house sales centre.
Around midnight, nearly 200 attackers forced their way into The Daily Star’s office, vandalised the ground floor and set fire to furniture and newspapers, with the blaze spreading to the third floor. In the chaos, 28 journalists and staff were trapped on the rooftop amid heavy smoke; one senior reporter posted on Facebook, “I can’t breathe… I’m trapped inside. You’re killing me.”
Firefighters reached the spot, but those stranded refused crane evacuation, fearing the mob below, and waited in darkness until an army officer reached the rooftop, verified his identity and led them quietly down the stairwell to safety. Both Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were forced to suspend publication for a day—the first time in their 27-year and 33-year histories respectively, excluding scheduled holidays—prompting the Daily Star to describe the episode as a moment that “must not be taken lightly” for press freedom in Bangladesh.
