Attacks on Prothom Alo, Daily Star offices draw condemnations

Leading media outlets, civil society and journalists' organisations strongly condemned the coordinated attacks, vandalism and arsons at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, describing them as a direct assault on press freedom, democratic values and the rule of law, and demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

The Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) have expressed deep concern, anger and strong condemnation over the attack, vandalism and arsons at the offices of the country's leading dailies.
In a joint statement, Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors' Council, and AK Azad, president of NOAB, said the reprehensible attacks were not directed at the media alone but targeted at society, democratic values, and ultimately at Bangladesh itself.
They noted that the late-night attacks caused damage to important infrastructure and assets of the two organisations and created serious risks to the lives of journalists.
The statement described the incidents as clear evidence of an extreme deterioration in law and order, as well as a stark manifestation of the state's failure and irresponsibility.
The Editors' Council and NOAB said they do not consider the attacks to be isolated incidents.
From the beginning, they added, there has been a consistent pattern of failure by the current interim government to prevent mob violence, and the latest attacks represent another horrific example of that failure.
The assault on media offices, they said, proves that law enforcement agencies have been completely unsuccessful in playing an effective role in suppressing crime.
At the same time, the Editors' Council and NOAB also condemned and protested the attack on Chhayanaut.
The statement noted that Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus telephoned Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, assuring them of security and expressing his solidarity.
However, the organisations stressed that responsibility for the attacks and for the failure to control the law and order situation must be borne by the interim government itself.
They said assurances or statements are not enough, and demanded the immediate identification and arrest of those responsible for the attacks, as well as exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
The demand also includes exemplary punishment for those involved in the incident of harassment of Editors' Council President Nurul Kabir.
The Editors' Council and NOAB called upon professional organisations, business communities, civil society, political parties and journalists' organisations to express solidarity with these demands.
The National Press Club has also strongly condemned and protested the attacks on the two leading media outlets.
In a statement on Friday, National Press Club president Hasan Hafiz and General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan described the attacks as an assault on freedom of speech, adding that it goes against the spirit of the July Revolution.
They also expressed deep concern over the harassment of renowned journalist and president of the Editors' Council Nurul Kabir.
A day after their Dhaka offices were attacked, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the two newspapers, on Friday announced that they would resume publication from today (Saturday).
In separate statements, the two leading dailies said their decision to publish again was taken despite extensive damage to their offices and severe trauma suffered by the staff members, underscoring their commitment to independent journalism.
Prothom Alo said its Karwan Bazar office was deliberately attacked on the night of December 18 while journalists were preparing the December 19 edition and operating the online portal.
The attackers vandalised the building and set it on fire, forcing journalists and staff members to flee in fear of lives.
The blaze destroyed equipment and documents, making it impossible to publish the print edition on Friday for the first time in the newspaper's 27-year history, excluding holidays.
Online operations were also suspended for several hours. The newspaper said it would resume online services as soon as possible and publish its print edition as usual from today (Saturday).
The Daily Star said its office was also targeted, with staff trapped on upper floors and the rooftop as mobs vandalised one floor after another and set fire to the lower levels.
Political leaders condemned the attacks. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir denounced the assaults on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and Nurul Kabir, calling the perpetrators "enemies of Bangladesh" and demanding swift justice.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami urged restraint and stressed that violence against journalists amounted to an attack on democracy.
The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has strongly condemned the attacks, vandalism and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, demanding the immediate identification and punishment of those responsible. The DRU said the media is the fourth pillar of the state, stressing that violence, intimidation and harassment aimed at silencing journalists are unacceptable and violate press freedom and the constitutional right to free expression.
Terming the incidents a planned attempt to target the media, the organisation urged the government to ensure an impartial and swift investigation and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
The Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) also strongly condemned the coordinated attacks and vandalism at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, calling them a direct assault on press freedom and democratic values.
ERF said the incidents were part of a deliberate attempt to intimidate journalists and suppress independent media, demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
The forum urged the government to ensure the safety of journalists and media institutions, stressing that freedom of the press is a constitutionally guaranteed
right.
Many organisations, including Transparency International Bangladesh, the Overseas Correspondents Association and the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, in separate statements, also denounced the attacks.
Civil society groups also called for a thorough investigation and accountability, warning that mob violence against the press posed a serious threat to the rule of law.

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