Govt faction linked in attacks on media, cultural hubs: Nahid

The National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has said that a faction within the government was involved in the recent attacks on media outlets and cultural organisations, claiming the incidents were premeditated.

He made the remarks at a protest meeting jointly organised by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) in Dhaka on Monday (December 22).

Nahid said the assailants used slogans from the July uprising and the name of Sharif Osman Hadi to justify their actions. “This was a fully planned crime, orchestrated to influence the country’s politics and upcoming elections, thousands of people did not do this spontaneously,” he added.

The unfolding incidents indicate a conspiracy regarding actions after Osman Hadi’s death, he said.

The NCP leader said, We all bear some responsibility for these events, particularly those of us involved in the July uprising. I personally oversaw the Ministry of Information, which makes this situation even more regrettable.”

He called for accountability, urging the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice, including those responsible for the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi.

The event was attended by prominent editors, politicians, and human rights activists, including Nurul Kabir, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Shahidul Alam, and Rehnuma Ahmed.