'Deeply sorry that I failed you': Shafiqul after arson attacks on The Daily Star, Prothom Alo offices

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has expressed deep regret stating his inability to help during attacks and arson targeting the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, describing them as one of the country's worst assaults on media outlets.

"Last night, I received frantic, tear-choked calls for help from my journalist friends at The Daily Star and Prothom Alo," Shafiqul wrote in a Facebook post this afternoon (19 December), around 15 hours after the midnight attacks.

"To all my friends, I am deeply sorry that I failed you. I made scores of calls to the right people, trying to mobilise help, but it did not arrive in time," he added.

Shafiqul said he finally went to sleep at around 5am after confirming that all journalists trapped inside The Daily Star building had been rescued safely.

"By then, however, the two newspapers had already witnessed and endured one of the country's worst mob attacks and arsons on media outlets."

Expressing anguish, Shafiqul said he was struggling to find words to console those affected.

"All I can say is that as a former journalist I am sorry. I wish I could dig up a great piece of earth and bury myself in shame," he added.

After night of violence, The Daily Star, Prothom Alo employees return to burnt newsrooms to assess damage

Angry protesters stormed Prothom Alo's main office at 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 yesterday triggered furious protests across the country.