In an unprecedented assault on press freedom, the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star - two of Bangladesh’s most prominent Bengali- and English-language newspapers - were attacked, vandalized, and set ablaze overnight, trapping dozens of journalists inside and marking one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s press history. Within an hour, another group moved a few hundred meters toward The Daily Star’s office in Farmgate. Journalists trapped, frantic pleas for helpInside The Daily Star office, about 30 journalists and staff members became trapped as smoke and flames engulfed the building. “I think I’m still in shock,” a senior Prothom Alo reporter said, walking barefoot through the ashes of the newsroom. He personally phoned Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, expressing solidarity and assuring state protection.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 19, 2025 19:25 UTC