News Desk – Fresh violence broke out in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka late Thursday night after the death of a well-known student leader. Angry mobs attacked some of the country’s most influential media houses and journalists.
Protesters stormed the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, setting parts of the buildings on fire and damaging property. The attacks continued into the early hours of Friday.
During the unrest, senior journalist Nurul Kabir, editor of the newspaper New Age, was also attacked by the mob.
Trigger: Death of Student Leader Sharif Osman Hadi
The violence was sparked by the confirmed death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the activist group Inquilab Mancha and a key figure in the July uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024.
Hadi had been shot in the head by unknown attackers in Dhaka on December 12. He was flown to Singapore for emergency treatment but died on Thursday evening. News of his death quickly spread, leading supporters to take to the streets.
Attacks on Media Offices
According to local reports, mobs gathered outside the newspaper offices around midnight. Videos on social media show people smashing windows, vandalising property with sticks, and setting fires outside the Prothom Alo building.
Some employees were reportedly trapped inside both buildings during the attacks. Several hours later, journalists and staff were safely evacuated, and firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control.
Accusations Against the Media
Supporters of Hadi accused the newspapers of biased reporting and claimed there was a conspiracy involving foreign influence. According to news agency AP, editors of the targeted newspapers are known to have close links with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus.
In recent weeks, Islamist groups had also protested outside these media offices, alleging ties between the newspapers and India.
