Attackers tried to burn journalists alive in medieval-style: Nurul Kabir

Media editors and journalists on Monday (December 22) condemned the recent attacks on national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices, calling them “medieval-style” attempts to harm staff.

The protest meeting was jointly organised by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at a Dhaka hotel.

Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors’ Council executive committee and editor of New Age, said The attackers attempted to burn journalists alive in a medieval-style assault, setting fires around the offices while staff were at work.

“If society does not stand up against such acts, not only organizations but the entire social system and progress will be jeopardized,” he added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the attacks as an assault on democracy, free expression, and the legacy of the July uprising.

The meeting was chaired by Editors’ Council Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud. Other attendees included photographer Shahidul Alam, lawyer Sara Hossain, human rights activist Rehnuma Ahmed, TIB’s Dr Iftikharuzzaman, and NCP convener Nahid Islam.