Bangladesh Newspaper Staff Trapped as Offices Set Ablaze by Protests

Fri Dec 19 2025 16:09:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Protests erupted in Bangladesh following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi, leading to the burning of newspaper offices and highlighting growing tensions in the country.

As protests filled the streets of Dhaka after the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi, staff at major newspapers found themselves trapped in burning buildings. Hadi's passing has sparked outrage and violence against media outlets known for their critical stance. The interim government has condemned these attacks while guaranteeing justice for the victims.

Staff at two leading Bangladeshi newspapers say they were gasping for air as protesters, roused by the death of a prominent activist, set their offices alight on Thursday.

Sharif Osman Hadi, who had emerged as a key figure after last year's anti-government protests that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot in Dhaka last week and died of his injuries on Thursday.

Hundreds of protesters stormed the offices of English newspaper The Daily Star and Bengali daily Prothom Alo on Thursday night, with demonstrations extending into the following day.

It is one of the darkest days for independent journalism in Bangladesh, the Daily Star stated.

For the first time in 35 years, The Daily Star could not publish its print edition on Friday and will be inoperable for a while, according to consulting editor Kamal Ahmed.

Twenty-eight of our colleagues were trapped in the rooftop of the building for hours... They were gasping for fresh air, Ahmed stated. They were rescued only after additional military reinforcement arrived.

No one has been seriously injured, but large parts of the buildings suffered significant fire damage. Smoke was still visible coming from Prothom Alo's building when BBC reporters arrived.

The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus condemned the violence, vowing to pursue full justice for the perpetrators.

Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself, the government stated in a release following the violence.

Bangladesh is scheduled to hold elections in February, marking the first since Hasina's ousting.

Hadi, a senior member of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha, was critical of both the current and former governments. His assassination has stirred discussions of political instability and potential election derailment.

During the protests, additional historical buildings linked to former leaders were also vandalized, reflecting deepening fractures in Bangladesh's social fabric. Investigations are ongoing as the country prepares for a tense political climate ahead of the upcoming elections.