After night of violence, The Daily Star, Prothom Alo employees return to burnt newsrooms to assess damage
At The Daily Star, around 30 to 35 journalists and staffers were forced to take shelter on the rooftop to escape the smoke and flames before being evacuated by cranes and ladders by emergency responders.
Massive vandalism and arson left the offices of the national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in ruins after a night of violent unrest in Dhaka.
Many were stuck on the rooftop of The Daily Star for hours while fire ravaged through the lower floors of the building. Some of them returned this morning (19 December) to assess the damage, while law enforcement members were stationed in front of the two offices.
The Daily Star photojournalist Prabir Das broke down in tears when he returned to his workplace. This morning, there was no camera or lens in his hands—others were taking photographs of him while colleagues offered comfort.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Prabir said, "All my memories, the photographs I have taken over so many years of my career—four or five hard drives…"
Print and digital operations for both newspapers have been suspended as a result of the extensive damage and disruptions.
Angry protesters stormed Prothom Alo's headquarters in Karwan Bazar around midnight, smashing windows, destroying floors, piling up documents and furniture outside, and setting them on fire.
Shortly afterwards, they moved on to The Daily Star office near Farmgate, where the first four floors were torched and damaged amid widespread chaos.
Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered earlier at Shahbagh after news spread of the death of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, whose shooting and subsequent death in hospital triggered furious protests across the country.
Firefighters brought the blazes under control in the early hours of today, and army personnel were deployed around both office buildings to help restore order.
At The Daily Star, around 30 to 35 journalists and staffers were forced to take shelter on the rooftop to escape the smoke and flames before being evacuated by cranes and ladders by emergency responders.
No fatalities were reported, though many employees suffered from smoke inhalation and shock.
