Editors’ Council and NOAB protest meeting: Attack on Prothom Alo and Daily Star is attack on democracy

Leaders of various political parties, professional business and journalist organisations, and representatives of civil society have expressed deep concern and distress regarding the attack and arson on the daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Speakers said this attack was not just carried out on a media house; it is a direct attack on democracy, freedom of speech, and citizen rights. 

Editors’ Council and Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) jointly organised the protest meeting at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Monday. A human chain was carried out in front of the venue after the meeting. 

Expressing solidarity, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said it is high time for all pro-democratic people to be united.

"I don't know what kind of Bangladesh we are standing in right now. I am 78 years old. I have fought my life for an independent, sovereign, democratic Bangladesh. The Bangladesh I am seeing today is not the Bangladesh I ever dreamt of."

Fakhrul Islam said that the attack was not just on Prothom Alo or The Daily Star. It was an attack on democracy. My right to think independently, my right to speak, has been attacked again. The 'July War' has been attacked because the July War was the people's struggle to establish their rights."

Mirza Fakhrul said, It is now the time for all pro-democracy people and organisations to forge unity. We, who want to come out of the darkness and truly want to see Bangladesh as an independent, sovereign, and democratic nation, must not just be aware but must stand up against this. Now is the time to stand up."

He further added, "I appeal to you all, just not to declare solidarity by coming here, or by holding a human chain. All of you who love Bangladesh to be united with all your might in every sphere and resist this evil force."

New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said that killing the people inside the buildings of the two news media was the attackers' goal. 

"When everyone was working in the office, it was torched from all sides. By obstructing the fire service, they tried to burn people in a medieval way," he said. 

A K Azad, President of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) said, "A general assembly of all the journalists of the nation will be held in mid-January to protest this incident."

Meanwhile, Jatiya Nagarik Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam alleged the attack on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were planned incidents. 

"The attack was carried out using July Mass Uprising slogans and martyr Osman Hadi's name. This indicates involvement of a section of the government, political backup, and pre-planning," he said, calling for a proper investigation and the trial of those involved.