DHAKA, Bangladesh, Dec 19— An uneasy calm prevailed across Dhaka and several other Bangladeshi cities on Friday after overnight violence triggered by the death of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi, with mobs targeting newsrooms, political offices and cultural institutions.
The offices of English-language daily The Daily Star and Bangla newspaper Prothom Alo in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area were attacked late Thursday night, forcing journalists to flee as parts of the building were vandalised and set on fire, BD News24 reported.
“One of our colleagues called to warn that a mob was coming toward our office after attacking Prothom Alo,” a Daily Star journalist said. “Within minutes, smoke filled the building.”
As staff tried to evacuate, attackers reached the lower floors, vandalising the premises and setting fires. Twenty-eight journalists were trapped on the rooftop of the 10-storey building for several hours, the report said.
A canteen worker who attempted to escape using an external fire ladder was beaten by the crowd after reaching the ground, a journalist said. “After seeing that, no one else dared to climb down.”
Firefighters later put out the blaze on the lower floors and attempted a rooftop evacuation, but journalists initially refused to descend amid continued vandalism. Army personnel were later deployed, and staff were evacuated through a rear staircase around 3:45 a.m.
“We were lucky,” one journalist said after the rescue. “I don’t know where this country is headed.”
Senior journalist Zyma Islam posted on Facebook during the ordeal, saying, “I can’t breathe. So much smoke. I’m inside. You are trying to kill me.”
Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir and photographer Shahidul Alam arrived at the scene but were harassed by protesters, who accused Kabir of being an “Awami League agent,” according to videos circulating online.
Following the attacks, both The Daily Star and Prothom Alo announced they would not publish Friday editions. BBC Bangla reported that online operations were also nearly paralysed.
Violence was reported elsewhere as well. In Dhanmondi, protesters attacked the cultural institution Chhayanaut, vandalising and setting fire to parts of the building. In Rajshahi, an Awami League office was demolished with a bulldozer, while in Chattogram, protesters torched the residence of former mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury Nowfel.
Road blockades disrupted traffic across several districts, with protesters chanting slogans against India and the Awami League.
In a late-night Facebook statement, Inqilab Moncho urged supporters to avoid violence. “As the February elections approach, consider who benefits if unrest is created,” the group said.
