DUJ condemns attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star buildings

The Dhaka Union of Journalists, DUJ, has strongly condemned the attacks, vandalism, arson and looting at the Prothom Alo office and The Daily Star building, and demanded that those involved be quickly identified and brought to justice.

In a statement on Friday, December 19, DUJ president Sazzad Alam Khan Topu and general secretary Akhtar Hossain said such heinous acts as arson and looting at media offices are completely unacceptable. They said these incidents have pushed journalists into an extreme sense of insecurity, leaving not only journalists but also their families living in fear and anxiety.

The statement said that on Thursday night, attackers carried out vandalism, arson and looting at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar and later at The Daily Star building. At one point, Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors’ Council and editor of the New Age, was publicly harassed while trying to stop the attackers in front of The Daily Star building.

The journalist leaders said the humiliation of a senior editor in such a manner is unacceptable and constitutes an attack not just on an individual but on the dignity of the entire journalistic community.

The DUJ also strongly condemned the killing of journalist Imdadul Haque Milon, president of the Sholua Press Club in Dumuria upazila of Khulna, who was shot dead by criminals on December 18. The leaders demanded the immediate arrest of those involved and exemplary punishment.

The statement further noted that for nearly one and a half years, the DUJ office has remained locked without justification, which is deeply worrying and undesirable for an independent country. The organisation urged the authorities to take effective measures to put an end to such lawlessness.

The statement was sent to the media by DUJ organising secretary Golam Mujtaba Dhruba.