Security was heightened at the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo following clashes between police and Inquilab Mancha activists at the InterContinental intersection in Dhaka.
Additional police were deployed from 4:30pm Friday as a precaution to prevent any unwanted incidents.
Mohammad Akkas Ali, assistant commissioner of DMP’s Tejgaon Zone, said the deployment was increased after clashes in Shahbagh and Banglamotor, with senior officers present on-site. When asked if there was intelligence or suspicion of an attack on the newspapers, he said: “Not exactly. The trouble is happening in Shahbagh; if it comes this way, we are stationed here to prevent it.”
A journalist from The Daily Star said police advised staff to work from home, considering the seriousness of the situation.
The precaution recalls an incident on December 18 last year, when the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were attacked, vandalized, and set on fire following the death of Inquilab Mancha’s then-convenor, Sharif Osman Hadi. Hundreds were named in the case, and 28 were later arrested.
Inquilab Mancha had staged a sit-in near the residence of the Chief Adviser in Jamuna since Thursday, demanding justice for Hadi’s murder. On Friday afternoon, activists began a procession from the sit-in, leading to clashes with police at the InterContinental intersection. The Shahbagh to Banglamotor area became a battleground.
Police used sound grenades and tear gas to disperse protesters, leaving several, including the organisation’s secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, injured. Activists later retreated to Shahbagh intersection, leaving the area tense.
Amid the unrest, police maintained a cautious position in front of the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, aiming to prevent any escalation.