Journalists and staff were dramatically rescued after a violent mob stormed and set fire to the headquarters of two of Bangladesh's leading newspapers in the capital, Dhaka. The attacks on Friday, 19 December 2025, came amid widespread unrest triggered by the death of a prominent political activist, raising serious concerns about stability ahead of national elections.
Offices Torched, Journalists Trapped Inside
Protesters targeted the offices of the Bengali-language Prothom Alo daily and the English-language Daily Star. They vandalised the buildings before setting them ablaze, leaving employees trapped inside as smoke filled the premises. Daily Star journalist Zyma Islam posted a desperate plea on Facebook, writing, "I can't breathe anymore. There's too much smoke."
Both publications were forced to halt their online updates and did not print their Friday broadsheet editions. Firefighters and troops were deployed to the scene, with emergency services working to rescue those trapped and bring the fires under control by early Friday morning.
Death of Activist Sparks Nationwide Protests
The violence was sparked by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in the political uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in July 2024. Hadi died in hospital in Singapore on Thursday, 18 December, after spending six days on life support. He had been shot a week earlier while riding a rickshaw in Dhaka.
Hadi was a fierce critic of the former government and neighbouring India, and had planned to stand as an independent candidate in Dhaka in the upcoming February elections. Authorities stated they had identified suspects in his shooting, suggesting the assassin may have fled to India.
Election Fears and a History of Turmoil
The attacks have ignited fears of fresh instability ahead of the national vote. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, urged the public to resist violence as police and paramilitary troops were deployed across Dhaka and other cities. Protesters are believed to have targeted the newspapers for their alleged links to India and perceived closeness to the interim administration.
This unrest echoes the mass protests of July 2024, dubbed the "Gen Z" revolution, which resulted in an estimated 1,400 deaths and forced Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. She was later sentenced to death in absentia. While calm had largely returned by Friday morning, demonstrators continued to gather at Shahbagh Square in Dhaka, vowing to continue until justice was served.
