Offices of two prominent Bangladeshi newspapers, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were set ablaze by protesters on Thursday. The incidents occurred amidst demonstrations following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot last week in Dhaka and succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. Hadi had been a notable figure in anti-government protests that led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.
Hundreds of protesters stormed the newspaper offices on Thursday night, with demonstrations extending into the following day. The Daily Star reported that for the first time in 35 years, it could not publish its print edition on Friday and anticipates being inoperable for a period.
During the incidents, 28 staff members of The Daily Star were trapped on the building's rooftop for several hours before being rescued by additional military reinforcement. While no serious injuries were reported, significant sections of both newspaper buildings were found charred.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, condemned the violence. In a statement on Friday, it pledged to ensure "full justice" for the perpetrators, emphasizing that "attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself." The government further stated that Bangladesh is undergoing a "historic democratic transition" that should not be disrupted.
The reasons for targeting The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, known for their secular and progressive stances, remain unclear. Both newspapers had previously faced criticism during Sheikh Hasina's administration. More recently, they have maintained a critical perspective on some policies of the current interim government, which may have contributed to anger among supporters of the Yunus administration.
In addition to the newspaper offices, other prominent structures, including the residence of Bangladesh's first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, were also vandalized and set on fire on Thursday.