Bangladesh media crisis: Editors warn of ‘fight for survival’ after targeted attacks

Dhaka: Prominent editors in Bangladesh have warned that the nation's press is no longer merely fighting for freedom of expression but is now engaged in a struggle for the "right to stay alive."

Direct Assault on Media Houses

The stark warnings, issued during a Monday press conference, follow a wave of coordinated violence on Thursday night. Mobs targeted and set fire to the Dhaka headquarters of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, trapping scores of employees inside. Emergency services were reportedly blocked by the rioters from reaching the burning buildings for several hours.

"Freedom of expression is no longer the main issue. Now it is about the right to stay alive," stated Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star. He characterised the attacks as "murderous" in intent, noting that 27 staff members were forced to seek refuge on the rooftop as the fire spread below.

Anam further highlighted a disturbing trend of online incitement, citing social media calls for journalists of the two leading dailies to be "hunted down and killed at their homes."

Police and Government Response

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has faced criticism for its delayed response. Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam defended the wait, claiming that immediate intervention could have escalated the violence. “The reason we could not go into action there was to ensure that no human life was lost,” Islam told reporters.

The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, confirmed that nine individuals have been detained in connection with the arson and vandalism at the newspapers and cultural centres such as Chhayanaut. While the government officially condemned the acts, it attributed the violence to "fringe elements"—a label rejected by journalists and rights groups who argue the state failed in its duty to protect the press.

Political Catalysts

The unrest was sparked by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old leader of the Inqilab Mancha and a key figure in the 2024 uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina. Hadi, a vocal critic of India and a candidate for the upcoming February 12 elections, died Thursday in Singapore after being shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka earlier this month.

The mobs accused Prothom Alo and The Daily Star of promoting the interests of the deposed Hasina regime and neighbouring India. Despite the interim government’s promises of democratic restoration, media representatives warn that the current atmosphere of intimidation is rapidly shrinking the civic space necessary for the scheduled polls.

With inputs from PTI