The attacks, vandalism, looting and arson at the offices of leading national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have sparked widespread outrage, with politicians, journalists and civil society figures calling the incidents a direct assault on independent journalism, democratic values and the rule of law.
Police say cases have been filed accusing the perpetrators of rioting, unlawful entry, looting, arson with intent to kill, intimidation and destruction of evidence.
Several people have been arrested and items seized as evidence, according to Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
However, human rights activists and journalists have raised serious concerns over the fact that the accused in both cases remain largely unidentified, despite what they describe as a large-scale, coordinated attack.
The complaints filed by the two newspapers themselves describe the incidents as “planned attacks,” further intensifying calls for a transparent investigation and accountability.
Analysts warn that the incidents go beyond attacks on two media institutions and represent a deeper threat to freedom of expression and dissent. They caution that failure to uncover the motives behind the violence and punish those responsible could further erode press freedom in Bangladesh.
Cases filed, accused largely unidentified
A case was filed with Tejgaon Police Station shortly after midnight on Sunday over the December 18 attack on Prothom Alo Bhaban in Karwan Bazar. The case was lodged by Prothom Alo’s head of security, Major (retd) Md Sajjadul Kabir, naming 400–500 unidentified persons as accused under sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Special Powers Act and Cyber Security Ordinance.
A similar case is set to be filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station over the attack on The Daily Star office.
The inclusion of a large number of unnamed accused has drawn criticism. Jayma Islam, a journalist at The Daily Star, expressed concern in a Facebook post, warning that such cases have previously been misused for political purposes.
“No innocent person should be arrested, and those arrested must be treated according to the law,” she wrote, urging journalists not to speculate or assign blame without evidence.
Isolated incidents or coordinated violence?
The attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and several cultural institutions following the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson and Dhaka-8 aspirant Sharif Osman Hadi have raised questions about whether the violence was spontaneous or orchestrated.
Human rights organisations, editors’ bodies and several political leaders argue that the incidents were not isolated, but rather part of a coordinated attempt to suppress free expression for political and ideological ends.
Dr Sajjad Siddiqui, a teacher in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at Dhaka University, said the sequence of events — from the attack on Hadi to the media assaults following news of his death — warrants close scrutiny.
“What may appear coincidental at first can reveal patterns of provocation if examined carefully,” he said, adding that societal manipulation and misinformation play a significant role in mobilising violence.
Police response under scrutiny
According to the case statement, a group of 20–30 unidentified individuals gathered outside the Prothom Alo office around 11:15pm on Thursday with sticks, crude weapons and flammable materials. Police initially intervened, but the group regrouped, allegedly using social media to incite further violence.
Human rights activist and legal analyst Rezaur Rahman Lenin questioned whether those who incited and organised the violence would ever be identified.
“We need to understand how the mob was formed and whether there was negligence or delay by law enforcement,” he said.
Police, however, deny any lapse. DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam said at a press briefing that using force could have escalated the situation and led to loss of life.
“The police consider the absence of fatalities an achievement,” he said, adding that 17 people have been arrested so far.
Security tightened, government reacts
Following the attacks, security has been strengthened for the editors of both newspapers. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said armed guards have been deployed and residential security enhanced.
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, after visiting Prothom Alo, said: “Disagreements are natural in a democracy, but violence and arson can never be justified.”
Observers, however, warn against selective outrage or attempts to relativise attacks by comparing them with past incidents involving other media outlets, arguing that such narratives risk dividing the journalistic community.
Political and civil society condemnation
At a protest organised by the Editors’ Council and NOAB, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the attacks were not just against the media but against democracy itself.
National Citizens Party convener Nahid Islam alleged that the attackers could not have acted without political backing.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the vandalism at Chhayanaut, harassment of journalists, and the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh together point to a broader pattern aimed at silencing dissent.
“The interim government cannot evade responsibility,” he said.
Legal analyst Rezaur Rahman Lenin added that mass arrests without clear identification risk harming innocent people while failing to dismantle the networks behind mob violence.
“These incidents must not be allowed to normalise impunity,” he said.
