Agitated students and the public have carried out unprecedented attacks, vandalism and arson on the offices of two leading media outlets in the capital following the news of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death. The attacks were carried out at around 12 midnight on the main office of Prothom Alo in Karwan Bazar and the office of the Daily Star in Farmgate in the capital.
Although the army and additional police were deployed immediately after the incident, the situation could not be brought under control quickly. During the attack, hundreds of angry students and the public gathered in front of the two offices and started chanting various slogans. At least 20 journalists were trapped on the roof of the Daily Star building. Asphyxiated by the thick smoke caused by the arson, they took to social media to plead for help on Facebook. Many broke down in tears in fear, witnesses said.
According to eyewitnesses, after the news of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death spread, protest marches started coming out from different areas. A procession from Shahbagh first gathered in front of the Prothom Alo office. Various slogans were raised there against Prothom Alo and India. At one stage, a section of the protesters entered the office and caused widespread vandalism. Papers and computers were thrown down and the building was set on fire.
The angry crowd then took up position in front of the multi-storey Daily Star building located at Farmgate a short distance away. There, they entered the building and set it on fire. Although the law enforcement forces tried to quell the protesters, many were seen taking away furniture and other items from the two offices.
Sources said that the agitated attackers entered the Prothom Alo office with sticks. Most of the window panes of the building were broken in the attack. Around 12 midnight, a section of the protesters brought out tables, chairs and important documents and set them on fire on the road.
During the vandalism and arson, protesters were seen chanting slogans including ‘Inqilab Inqilab’, ‘Zindabad Zindabad’, and ‘Naraye Takbir’. Although the employees of the Prothom Alo office were able to get out safely, the employees could not get out due to a fire on the ground floor of the Daily Star building. To save their lives, they took shelter on the roof of the building. Many fell ill due to respiratory problems due to smoke.
Later, the situation was brought under control with the joint efforts of the police, army and fire service. Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Keshinyu Marma said that several hundred people had gathered and carried out the attack. However, it was not immediately confirmed who was involved in the incident.
Fire Service Media Cell Officer-in-Charge Md. Shahjahan Sikder said that eight units from three fire stations were sent to the fire at Prothom Alo and Daily Star. However, some units got stuck on the way due to the angry crowd. With the help of the army, some units started extinguishing the fire at Prothom Alo and Daily Star. Later, another unit from Tejgaon Fire Station joined with the help of the police. The fire was brought under control at around 1:40 am and the journalists trapped on the roof were rescued.
Meanwhile, National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam reacted to the attack on Prothom Alo and Daily Star. He said, “Sharif Osman Hadi’s struggle was a struggle for structuralism and institution building. Those who tried to take the movement to a different direction by setting fire are against Hadi’s ideology. This is a planned sabotage.” He called on everyone to build a peaceful movement and demanded that justice be ensured for Hadi’s murder.