'When media outlets set ablaze, freedom of speech turns to ashes'

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Manchsuccumbed to his bullet injuries around 9:45 pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Within moments of hearing this news, an angry crowd gathered at Shahbagh intersection in the capital. A section of them then moved towards Karwan Bazar. Upon arrival, they first vandalized and looted the office of Daily Prothom Alo and then that of the Daily Star on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. Later, both outlets were set on fire. During this time, the protesters attacked New Age Editor Nurul Kabir. When the attack began, journalists and staff of Prothom Alo quickly left premise to save their lives while journalists of the Daily Star took shelter on the roof. For the first time since their establishment, the publication of Prothom Alo and the Daily Star was suspended for a day, excluding the newspaper holiday. This incident tarnished the country's image all over the world. Freedom of the media has been called into question. According to prominent figures, the incident of setting fire to the offices of the country's two leading newspapers amounts to strangling the freedom of speech of the people of the country. In fact, they say that when the media is burned, freedom of speech is reduced to ashes.

In this regard, constitutional expert Dr. Shahdeen Malik told Views Bangladesh, "The offices of the country's two leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and Daily Star, published in Bengali and English, are now in ruins. This is a very dangerous matter for any state. That incident directly amounts to burning down freedom of speech. Even the state cannot avoid its responsibility here. If this continues, the trend of free media will be destroyed."

Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), told Views Bangladesh: "Freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of cultural activities are the fundamental foundations of a democratic state. The attack and burning of the offices of the country's two leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and Daily Star, is a direct and terrible blow to freedom of expression and the press. It is an abomination for the country. Such attacks in the media seem to be an attempt to destabilize the situation in the country and present it as an uncontrolled state."

Describing the attack and burning of Prothom Alo and Daily Star as a barbaric, planned and organized attack, Manzil Murshid, President of the human rights organization Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, told Views Bangladesh: "Those who set fire to media offices, vandalize offices or attack a senior editor do not have the slightest sense of democracy. No one can be a champion of democracy by suppressing freedom of expression.' He said, 'The journalistic community never bows to fear and will not remain silent in revealing the truth in the future."

In this regard, Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul told Views Bangladesh: "The government is deeply concerned about the attacks, vandalism and arson on the offices of Prothom Alo and the Daily Star and the harassment of Nurul Kabir, the editor of New Age. I strongly condemn the incident. Those who take the law into their own hands will be brought to justice under the law. The current interim government believes in free media and freedom of expression. Those who have tried or will try to fish in troubled waters will not be spared."

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Dhaka, Michael Miller, condemned the burning of the offices of Daily Prothom Alo and the Daily Star and the public harassment of Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age newspaper. He said: "The attacks on Prothom Alo and the Daily Star are an attack on the freedom of the media and freedom of expression. This was a terrible moment for the democracy of Bangladesh. We do not want such incidents to be repeated." In addition, many organizations and media outlets in the country and abroad have condemned the incident and demanded justice for the perpetrators."