Attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star strike against democracy

Prominent citizens, civil society representatives, business leaders, journalists, writers, intellectuals and leaders of various political parties have expressed deep concern and anger over the attacks on the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. They said the attacks were not against individual media outlets but a direct assault on democracy, freedom of expression and citizens’ rights.

Speakers made the remarks at a protest meeting titled “Bangladesh under mob violence” held on Monday morning at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. The Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh jointly organised the event. A human chain was formed in front of the hotel after the meeting.

Expressing solidarity, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “Today it is not Prothom Alo or The Daily Star alone; democracy itself has been attacked. The right to think and speak freely has once again come under assault.”

He said this was the time for all pro-democracy forces to unite, stressing that mere expressions of solidarity were not enough and that people must resist collectively.

Editors’ Council President and New Age editor Nurul Kabir said the attackers’ intention was to kill people inside the media offices. He said fires were set from multiple sides while staff were working, and that efforts were made to prevent the fire service from intervening, describing it as an attempt to burn people alive in a medieval manner.

He added that disagreement with a newspaper’s editorial policy does not justify arson, warning that if such violence is not stopped, it would destroy not only journalism but the entire social system and prospects for progress.

In his concluding remarks, Noab President AK Azad said a nationwide rally would be organised in mid-January with journalists from across the country to protest the attacks, adding that further programmes would be announced and protests would continue until justice is ensured.