Violent Attacks Target Prothom Alo and Daily Star Offices

A night of unprecedented violence unfolded in Dhaka on Thursday as the offices of two of the country’s leading national newspapers—Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—were subjected to coordinated attacks involving vandalism, arson, and intimidation. The incidents occurred in the capital’s busy Karwan Bazar area and followed protests sparked by reports of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson and convener of the Inkilab Manch.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, shortly before midnight on Thursday (18 December), a large group of protesters marched from Shahbagh towards Karwan Bazar. Upon reaching the Prothom Alo headquarters, the demonstrators surrounded the premises and began chanting slogans. Police personnel present at the scene attempted to calm the situation; however, the crowd soon turned aggressive.

Armed with sticks and makeshift weapons, the attackers began smashing windows and damaging the building’s exterior. Most of the office’s glass panels were shattered. At around midnight, a section of the mob forcibly entered the premises, dragged tables, chairs, and important documents onto the street, and set them on fire. Thick smoke engulfed the area, creating panic among journalists and staff members trapped inside the building. One Prothom Alo journalist confirmed that several reporters and officials were still stranded within the office as tensions remained extremely high.

During the attack, protesters were heard chanting slogans such as “Inkilab, Inkilab,” “Zindabad,” and “Naraye Takbir,” further heightening fear among nearby residents and office workers.

Almost simultaneously, a similar assault took place at the nearby office of The Daily Star. Protesters advanced on the building shortly after midnight and set parts of the premises ablaze. Journalists working inside the office were forced to flee to the rooftop to escape the flames and suffocating smoke. Several staff members became trapped on the roof, unable to descend due to the fire below.

One Daily Star reporter later stated that the attackers had deliberately set fire to the office, leaving those inside with no option but to seek refuge on the rooftop. Journalist Zaima Islam, who was trapped inside the building, posted a distressing message on social media, describing severe breathing difficulties caused by dense smoke and pleading for immediate rescue.

As the situation deteriorated, the army was deployed to disperse the protesters from in front of The Daily Star office. Fire Service units arrived at approximately 12:58 am and began rescue operations, focusing on evacuating those stranded on the rooftop and extinguishing the fire.

Tejgaon Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Keshainyu Marma, confirmed that several hundred people had taken part in the attacks and stated that law enforcement was working to regain full control of the area. However, he was unable to immediately identify those responsible. As of the latest reports, the Karwan Bazar area remained tense, raising serious concerns about press freedom, public safety, and law and order.

Incident Overview