A group of people on Monday attacked the Prothom Alo office in Rajshahi, smashing the signboard and setting it on fire.
The incident occurred on Monday in front of the office at Boalia Thana road.
After breaking the signboard, the attackers took it down and set it alight.
The attackers were seen celebrating after destroying the signboard.
Abul Kalam Azad, the Bureau Chief of Prothom Alo in Rajshahi, confirmed the incident, saying: "They attacked the office, destroyed the signboard, and set it on fire. They also chanted slogans against Prothom Alo and Daily Star. However, no journalists were harmed in the incident."
Local sources reported that a protest march was organized by groups named “Alam-Olama” and “Tawhidi Jonota” against what they called “anti-national activities” of Prothom Alo and Daily Star, as well as the police’s unexpected attack on a “Ziafat” programme.
The march started from Zero Point and reached Boalia Thana road, where the protesters staged a human chain in front of the Prothom Alo office.
At one point, they attacked the office gate with sticks and threw bricks.
Mehedi Masud, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Boalia Thana, confirmed that he was verbally informed about the incident and said: "If a written complaint is filed, legal action will be taken."
Meanwhile, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary at Chief Adviser's Office, said: “I condemn with the strongest terms the attack on the Prothom Alo office at Rajshahi. If you have complaints against the journalism of Prothom Alo, the Daily Star, or any other media outlets, you can go to courts to seek legal redress. You can also hold peaceful protests. Protests against media outlets isn't new. It has been going on for centuries. But threats and intimidation of journalists or attacking media outlets will not be tolerated.”
On Sunday afternoon, a similar protest and clashes between police and protesters occurred in front of Prothom Alo’s office at the Pragati Bhaban in Kawran Bazar, Dhaka.
In recent days, a group of people has been calling Prothom Alo “pro-India” on social media, and they have been organizing protests.
On Sunday, a large group gathered for the “Ziafat” program and clashed with police.
Similar protests have been held in other cities, including Chittagong and Barisal, in recent days, targeting Prothom Alo and Daily Star.