Bangladesh Newspaper Under Siege: Journalists Flee as Mob Torches Office, Demands Justice
Image Source: Internet
Bangladesh descended into chaos overnight as protests erupted following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, resulting in widespread violence and attacks on major media houses. Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of Dhaka's leading newspapers, were among those targeted by angry mobs. At Prothom Alo, around 25 journalists were trapped for over four hours after a mob stormed the building in Kawran Bazar around midnight. Executive Editor Sajjad Sharif described the attack as a 'darkest night' for Bangladesh's newspapers, citing widespread anger in society following the student leader's death. Sharif alleged that 'miscreants' vandalized the office, forcing the newspaper to suspend publication in both print and online formats. 'We couldn't publish our newspaper today, and our online site has been off since last night,' he said, adding that it was the first time in 27 years that the newspaper had been unable to publish. The attack on Prothom Alo was not an isolated incident, as The Daily Star also suffered a harrowing ordeal when protesters set fire to the building. Journalists were forced to flee the roof as flames engulfed the structure, with some narrowly escaping a major disaster. Army personnel eventually opened an exit, allowing staff to escape via the rear fire-exit staircase around 3:45 am. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by early Friday. Two fire service personnel were injured while trying to extinguish the fire at Prothom Alo and are currently receiving treatment in a Dhaka hospital. The Editors' Council President and New Age editor, Nurul Kabir, attempted to calm the attackers but was reportedly harassed. The situation has sparked demands for justice and an investigation into the violence. Sharif urged the government to conduct a proper investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech and the press in a democratic society.
