‘Assault on Bangladesh’: Editors’ Council, NOAB condemn Prothom Alo, Daily Star attacks

The Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) have expressed deep concern, anger, and strong condemnation over the shocking attacks, vandalism, and arson at the offices of the country's leading dailies, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

"This attack is not only on the media but also on our society and democratic values. Ultimately, it is an assault on Bangladesh itself," the two organisations said in a joint statement yesterday.

On Thursday night, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star came under a violent targeted attack after Inquilab Mancho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi succumbed to gunshot injuries earlier that night. 

On the night of the attacks, Editors' Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir was harassed and shoved by a group of protesters while trying to reach The Daily Star office.

The statement said that during the late-night attacks, the two media outlets suffered significant damage to infrastructure and assets, while journalists' lives were put at risk. 

"The incidents highlight a severe deterioration of law and order, and the state's failure and irresponsibility," added the statement, signed by Nurul Kabir and AK Azad, president of NOAB.

The Editors' Council and NOAB believe this is not an isolated incident. "From the outset, the interim government's repeated failure to prevent organised mob violence has been evident, and this latest episode is another alarming example. The attacks on media offices demonstrate the law enforcement agencies' complete failure to act effectively in crime prevention."

The Editors' Council and NOAB also strongly condemned the attacks on the Chhayanaut building. The cultural institution in Dhanmondi also came under attack on Thursday night.

The statement further said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus called Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam to assure them of security and to express the government's support. 

"However, the interim government must bear responsibility for failing to control the attacks and maintain law and order," it said. 

"Beyond statements and assurances, the Editors' Council and NOAB demand the immediate identification and arrest of the perpetrators, along with exemplary punishment for those involved in the harassment of Editors' Council President Nurul Kabir."

The Editors' Council and NOAB called on professional bodies, business leaders, civil society, political parties, and journalist organisations to unite in support of this demand.