Overnight Unrest in Bangladesh, Attacks on Media Houses and Protests

December 19, Kolkata:
Bangladesh was gripped by intense unrest from Thursday night after news spread of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha. Widespread protests and violence broke out across the country, including in the capital Dhaka. Journalists also came under attack from angry mobs. In the Karwan Bazar area of Dhaka, the offices of two of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers—Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—were vandalised and then set on fire. According to a report by BBC Bangla, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control and rescued journalists who were trapped inside. However, some of the rescued journalists have alleged police inaction.

Meanwhile, a journalist was reportedly shot dead in Khulna amid the violence. An incident of a young man being beaten to death has also been reported from Mymensingh. In Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house was vandalised once again. Local media sources said that in Rajshahi too, another house of Mujib and the Awami League office were attacked. Protesters at various places were heard raising slogans against Sheikh Hasina and India. In Chattogram, stones were allegedly hurled at the Indian Deputy High Commission. From night onwards, a section of students and youths began a sit-in protest in front of the Deputy High Commission.

The rapid deterioration of law and order has caused concern for the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Yunus has called a high-level meeting in Dhaka on Saturday to review the situation. It may be noted that soon after news of Hadi’s death spread, a large crowd gathered at Shahbagh in Dhaka on Thursday night, from where the protests spread to different cities across the country. During the arson attack on the newspaper offices in Karwan Bazar, many journalists were trapped inside. The Daily Star’s woman journalist Zaima Islam wrote on social media, “I can’t breathe properly. There is smoke everywhere. I am trapped inside.” Although everyone was rescued safely around 2 a.m., due to security concerns, the print editions of both newspapers were not published on Friday. Work on their digital editions has also been virtually suspended.