New Age editor and Editor’s Council President Nurul Kabir has described the attack on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star as a “medieval attempt to burn and kill,” expressing grave concern at a protest meeting in Dhaka on Monday.
Speaking at the joint protest organised by the Editor’s Council and the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), Kabir said the assault was not only an attack on media outlets but also on democratic values and freedoms.
“When journalists are working, setting fire to newspaper offices and blocking the fire brigade from responding clearly shows the attackers’ intentions,” Kabir said. “They aimed to burn and kill those with whom they disagree, using medieval methods of violence.”
The protest was held in response to the vandalism, looting, and arson at the two newspaper offices.
Kabir warned that tolerating such actions would threaten the entire societal structure. “If people do not stand up, it will not just destroy journalism but shut down the entire system of progress in society,” he added.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who attended the protest, condemned the attacks as “an assault on democracy itself.” He urged unity to resist what he called “an evil force.”
Mahbubur Rahman, president of the ICC, said democracy cannot thrive without freedom of expression. Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam termed the attack “attempted murder,” noting that many of his colleagues were trapped on the roof.
Human rights activist Shirin Hak criticised government inaction, calling it dangerous. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Rasheda K Chowdhury, and several other speakers also condemned the incident, stressing the need for unity to protect media freedom and democratic rights.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said 17 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. Of them, 13 were detained by local police, three by the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC), and one by the Detective Branch (DB).
DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam said suspects were identified through video footage and more arrests are expected. He added that cash recovered from one of the accused had been used to buy household items.
Nazrul Islam said police are not focusing on political affiliations. “These individuals are criminals who took the law into their own hands. Whether they belong to any political party or not, they will face legal consequences,” he said.
The violence erupted after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Manch, on December 18. News of his death drew thousands to Shahbagh and later Karwan Bazar, where the newspaper offices were attacked.
Fire services were obstructed, with attackers creating roadblocks to prevent emergency response. Prothom Alo has already filed a case, while Daily Star is preparing to do so. Both newspapers are assessing the extent of the damage.