Attacks on Prothom Alo, Daily Star reflect medieval barbarism, not public anger: Nurul Kabir
Nurul urged everyone to stay united in facing the situation, saying society must have diverse voices and opinions and it is crucial to maintain this diversity.
Last year's attacks and fire at Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices are not an expression of public anger but a display of medieval barbarism, Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors' Council and editor of the English daily New Age, said today (17 January).
When civilisation has advanced, setting fires around journalists while preventing the fire service's efforts is a display of medieval barbarism aimed at burning them alive, Nurul said at a media convention jointly organised by the Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (Noab).
The convention protested recent mob violence, with organisers warning that such incidents pose unprecedented threats to freedom of expression and democratic values, while calling for unity in defence of independent, responsible and courageous journalism.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The Editors' Council president added that media personnel cannot support such attacks and that the question of whether anyone supports it is irrelevant. "It has happened with Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and tomorrow it can be any other media as well," he said.
Nurul urged everyone to stay united in facing the situation, saying society must have diverse voices and opinions and it is crucial to maintain this diversity.
He also emphasised that the pursuit of democracy through journalism cannot be considered a crime.
"If the media is not outspoken, many forms of crime spread in society," he said.
