Offices of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were attacked, vandalized, and partially set on fire late Thursday night as angry protesters carried out coordinated assaults in Karwan Bazar and Farmgate, eyewitnesses said.
The incidents occurred around 12:00 AM on December 19, when a procession marched from the Shahbagh area toward the Prothom Alo headquarters. Protesters chanted slogans against the newspaper and India before forcibly entering the premises, damaging property and setting fire to the front section of the building.
At roughly the same time, a similar attack unfolded at The Daily Star’s Farmgate office, where an angry mob vandalized multiple parts of the building, according to eyewitness accounts.
Law enforcement agencies arrived at both locations and attempted to bring the situation under control. No casualties have been reported so far, though journalists were reportedly trapped inside the Daily Star building during the fire before rescue efforts began.
As of publication, no official statements have been issued by the management of either newspaper or by the administration regarding the attacks.
The motive behind the coordinated assaults remains unclear.
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