Late Thursday night, angry crowds set fire to the offices of Bangladesh’s two leading dailies, trapping journalists and staff inside before firefighters could bring the blaze under control early Friday.
The Attack on the Press
Hundreds of demonstrators surged into the building of Prothom Alo in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area, vandalised the premises and ignited the structure, according to online portals of various leading media outlets. A few hundred yards away, another group pushed into the premises of the English-language Daily Star, setting that building ablaze as well. Soldiers and paramilitary border guards were posted outside both offices but did not intervene. Firefighters arrived at the Daily Star site while security officials tried to persuade the protesters to leave peacefully.
The blaze trapped the newspaper’s staff working inside the building late Thursday. One of the Daily Star’s journalists, Zyma Islam, wrote on Facebook that she was inside the building. “I can’t breathe anymore. There’s too much smoke,” she said.
Both dailies stopped updating their online editions after the attacks and did not publish broadsheets on Friday.
Background: The Death of Sharif Osman Hadi
The unrest erupted after the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who had been shot on the streets of Dhaka last Friday while riding on a rickshaw. Two men on a motorbike followed Hadi, one of them fired a shot before fleeing the scene. After days of treatment in Dhaka, Hadi was flown to Singapore in critical condition. He died in hospital early Thursday evening.
Authorities said they identified the suspects and that the shooter most probably fled to India. The remarks sparked a new diplomatic squabble with India, prompting New Delhi to summon Bangladesh’s envoy to express condemnation. Bangladesh also summoned the Indian envoy to Dhaka and sought clarification.
Hadi was a fierce critic of both neighboring India and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule ended in last year’s uprising. The Inqilab Moncho group, formed after Hasina’s ouster, has been organising street protests and campaigns denouncing Hasina and India. The country’s Islamists and other Hasina opponents blame her government for being subservient to India during her rule.
Hadi had planned to run as an independent candidate in a major constituency in Dhaka in the next national elections, which the interim government has announced for February.
Diplomatic and Political Repercussions
Yunus, who took over three days after Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, promised in a televised address to the nation late Thursday to punish Hadi’s killers. He announced that Saturday would be a day of mourning and urged the citizens to stay calm.
The interim government has banned all activities by Hasina’s party, including its participation in the February election. Last month, a Bangladesh court sentenced Hasina to death on charges of crimes against humanity involving the uprising.
The attack on Hadi is still being investigated, but the shooting has set off tensions. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have recently expressed concerns over violations of human rights in Bangladesh.
Continuing Protests and Cultural Targets
Witnesses and media reports said hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka immediately after the news of Hadi’s death, rallying on Shahbagh Square near the Dhaka University campus where many chanted slogans such as Allahu Akbar. Similar protests erupted elsewhere in the country.
The protesters Thursday night also targeted Chhayanaut, a leading cultural institution widely respected by liberals, in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi neighborhood.
Dozens of protesters were still at Shahbagh Friday morning and vowed to continue the protests.
International Response and Visa Issues
On Wednesday, anti-India protesters attempted to march toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, prompting it to close its visa section. After Hasina’s ouster, India stopped issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshis, citing security concerns, but continued giving visas for medical treatment in India.
On Thursday, protesters in the southwestern city of Rajshahi tried to march toward the office of a regional Indian diplomat. Police stopped both marches.
Key Takeaways
- The death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi triggered violent protests that culminated in the burning of Bangladesh’s two leading newspapers.
- The shooting is under investigation; suspects are believed to have fled to India, sparking diplomatic tensions.
- The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has banned opposition activities and called for a day of mourning while pledging to punish Hadi’s killers.
The unrest underscores deep political divisions in Bangladesh and the fragile relationship with India, as protests continue to flare across the country.
