Journalists and staff members of Bangladesh’s leading media organisations were confronted with scenes of destruction and vandalism when they returned to their offices on Friday morning, following violent overnight attacks linked to the ongoing unrest across the country. Many employees appeared deeply shaken as they assessed the damage caused to their workplaces during the chaos that erupted after the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
One of the most severe incidents occurred in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area, where the offices of two of the country’s most prominent newspapers—the English-language daily The Daily Star and the Bangla-language newspaper Prothom Alo—were targeted by an angry mob late on Thursday night. The attackers reportedly vandalised large sections of the buildings, leaving behind widespread destruction.
At The Daily Star newsroom, the emotional toll of the attack was evident. Photojournalist Prabir Das was visibly overwhelmed as he entered the office on Friday. Instead of carrying his usual camera equipment, he stood surrounded by colleagues who documented his distress. Das spoke about the potential loss of years of professional work, including several hard drives that contained photographs accumulated over the course of his career. He said the attackers may not have understood the personal and professional value of such material to a journalist, describing the loss as devastating.
The assault on the media offices took place against the backdrop of nationwide protests and violence sparked by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, a radical student leader associated with the July Uprising and a candidate in the February 12 general elections, died in Singapore days after being shot in Dhaka. His death has become a flashpoint, triggering widespread anger and unrest across Bangladesh.
Tensions escalated sharply on Thursday after confirmation of Hadi’s death. While the early hours of Friday morning remained relatively calm, violence flared again later in the day. Protesters were seen vandalising the already damaged structure at 32 Dhanmondi, the historic residence of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Large parts of the country were gripped by unrest on Thursday night after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus officially confirmed Hadi’s death during a televised address. Reports of vandalism and violence emerged from multiple locations, including an incident in Chattogram where stones were reportedly hurled at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner.
In Dhaka, a group believed to be part of the protesting crowd attacked the offices of Prothom Alo and the adjoining The Daily Star building near the Shahbagh intersection. According to reports, several floors of the buildings were ransacked, while journalists and staff members were trapped inside during the attack. The mob also reportedly set fire to objects outside the premises, further escalating the situation.
Police eventually intervened to bring the situation under control, using tear gas and baton charges to disperse the protesters. At least 12 individuals were detained in connection with the violence, and a few people sustained injuries during the clashes.
Sharif Osman Hadi had been battling for his life for six days in a Singapore hospital after being shot in the head by masked gunmen in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He was attacked last week while launching his election campaign, an incident that has since plunged Bangladesh into one of its most serious episodes of political unrest in recent times.
