Govt must take full responsibility for Prothom Alo-Daily Star violence: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has strongly condemned the attacks and arson targeting national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontline organiser of the July mass uprising and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page early Friday (December 19), Mirza Fakhrul said the government must take full responsibility for the incidents.

He said Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign state, and ensuring the safety of citizens’ lives and property is the constitutional duty of the government. “At a time when the nation is mourning the death of Osman Hadi and praying for his soul, such disgraceful attacks on media houses and journalists are deeply alarming,” he said.

Referring to attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and prominent journalist Nurul Kabir, the BNP leader described the violence as unacceptable and alleged that vested groups were exploiting the country’s fragile situation to carry out destructive acts.

Mirza Fakhrul further said that efforts to divide the nation through mob violence have been continuing for more than a year. He noted that Hadi was an electoral candidate who believed in democratic politics and took his message directly to the people.

He demanded swift and exemplary punishment for those responsible for Hadi’s killing as well as for all incidents of mob violence.

Calling for immediate action, Mirza Fakhrul said the government’s primary responsibility following the fall of what he described as the authoritarian Awami League regime should be to unite the nation and establish a democratic, stable, and inclusive society.

Sharif Osman Hadi was shot in the head by assailants on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. After receiving treatment in Dhaka and later in Singapore, he died on Thursday night. His death has triggered heightened tension and unrest in Dhaka and other parts of the country.