Dhaka: In a terrifying escalation of unrest, angry protesters set fire to the offices of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, late on the night of December 18, trapping dozens of journalists inside amid thick smoke and chaos.
The attacks followed the death of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 July uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina.
Hadi, 32, spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha and known for his anti-India stance, succumbed to gunshot wounds in a Singapore hospital after being shot by masked assailants on December 12 in Dhaka.
Widespread protests followed Hadi’s death, with mobs chanting anti-India slogans like “Delhi or Dhaka: Dhaka, Dhaka” and accusing the newspapers of being pro-Hasina and pro-India.
Around midnight, demonstrators vandalised Prothom Alo’s Karwan Bazar office, looting and torching it. They then targeted The Daily Star nearby, breaking in, smashing furniture, and setting fires on lower floors. Over 28 staff members fled to the rooftop, struggling to breathe as smoke billowed up. “I can’t breathe anymore,” one reporter posted desperately.
The Bangladesh Army and fire services eventually rescued them safely after hours, using ladders amid the lingering crowd.
For the first time in decades, both papers halted print editions, marking a dark day for press freedom. Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus declared national mourning for Hadi, urging calm, while condemning the violence.
As Bangladesh grapples with political instability ahead of elections, the incident highlights deepening divisions and fears over media safety.