Bangladesh Journalists Rally Against Violence: A Call for Justice

In Bangladesh, journalists have taken to the streets to protest against violent attacks on media outlets, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. They are demanding immediate action against the perpetrators, warning that ongoing impunity threatens press freedom and public safety. The protests follow the death of a radical group spokesperson, which has led to increased violence against media and cultural institutions. The Awami League party has condemned these attacks, labeling them as a 'planned terrorist attack' and criticizing the interim government for failing to protect the nation's democratic values. This situation raises serious concerns about the future of press freedom in Bangladesh.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 21, 2025, 22:19 IST

Protests Erupt in Dhaka Over Media Attacks

Dhaka: In a significant display of solidarity, journalists in Bangladesh organized protests against recent arson and vandalism incidents targeting the offices of prominent media outlets, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. They are demanding swift action against the perpetrators, emphasizing that ongoing impunity threatens both press freedom and public safety, as reported by local media on Sunday.

In Gazipur, hundreds of journalists formed a human chain to express their outrage over the attacks and the assault on journalist Nurul Kabir. Speakers at the event called for the immediate arrest of those responsible, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum for action, with threats of escalating protests if their demands are not met, according to The Daily Star.

Similarly, in Satkhira, journalists created a human chain to demand accountability for the attacks on media organizations and the murder of Imdadul Haqueb, President of the Dumuria Sholua Press Club in Khulna.

The Electronic Media Journalists Association (EMJA) in Sylhet also condemned the violence against media personnel and institutions. EMJA President Ashraful Kabir and General Secretary Sakib Ahmed Mithu issued a statement denouncing the vandalism at media offices, the killing of a journalist in Khulna, and the harassment faced by journalists from 71 Television in Sylhet.

The unrest in Bangladesh escalated following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson for the radical group Inqilab Mancha. In the aftermath, various media offices, cultural institutions, and diplomatic missions became targets.

The attacks specifically affected the offices of leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as the national cultural institution Chhayanaut, the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram and Khulna, the Indian Cultural Centre, and the Bangabandhu memorial museum, a significant symbol of the nation’s heritage, among other establishments.

On December 20, the Awami League party of Bangladesh condemned the series of attacks on media offices, cultural institutions, and diplomatic missions, labeling them as a 'planned terrorist attack.' They stated that such actions indicate a decline in the fundamental characteristics of a modern, civilized state.

The Awami League's statement described these violent acts as a direct assault on Bangladesh’s secular values, the principles of the Liberation War, pluralism, cultural heritage, and media freedom. They criticized the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, claiming that the state apparatus has succumbed to extremist communalism, with the ruling committee acting as a supporter of such actions.