Chhayanaut, one of Bangladesh’s most revered cultural institutions, lies in ruins after a violent mob attack and arson early Friday morning in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area. Around 1:30am Friday, an agitated group of protesters stormed the Chhayanaut premises, vandalizing every floor of the building and setting parts of it ablaze. A visit to the site Friday afternoon revealed charred documents scattered amid piles of broken furniture and debris. The attack on Chhayanaut coincided with similar violence targeting two leading media houses—Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—where protesters carried out vandalism, looting, and arson early Friday. Government vows action and supportAt 2:30pm Friday, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki visited the damaged Chhayanaut building, touring the vandalized floors and meeting with senior members of the organization.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 19, 2025 17:46 UTC