The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), alongside six prominent civil society and human rights organisations, has issued a strong call for swift, independent, and transparent investigations into a series of violent mob attacks on Bangladesh’s leading news outlets and a cultural institution.
The joint statement, released on December 22, 2025, warns that these incidents represent a grave escalation in threats to freedom of expression, press freedom, and democratic participation, particularly as the country approaches the 2026 national election.
The attacks occurred on December 18, amid widespread unrest triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical Islamist mob leader. The news of his death on December 18 prompted angry crowds of supporters to rampage in Dhaka, upon social media posts by anarchists like Elias Hossain, Pinaki Bhaattacharya, and Md Sarjis Alam.
The Touhidi Janata mobs vandalised, looted, and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo (Bangladesh’s largest Bengali-language daily) in Karwan Bazar and The Daily Star (the country’s leading English-language newspaper), trapping journalists and staff inside burning buildings for hours.
Both publications were forced to suspend print and online operations temporarily—the first such disruption in decades for each outlet—before resuming limited services.
The cultural institution Chhayanaut, renowned for promoting Bangladeshi arts and education, was also vandalised in the violence. Verified reports indicate that journalists faced life-threatening risks, with thick smoke making breathing difficult and forcing evacuations aided by fire services, police, and the Bangladesh Army.
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No fatalities were reported among media workers, but the incidents have been described as “one of the darkest days for independent journalism in Bangladesh” by affected outlets.
The joint statement, signed by Access Now, Article 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS), and Tech Global Institute, condemns the coordinated nature of the assaults. It highlights a broader pattern of attacks on independent media, journalists, activists, and cultural spaces throughout 2025, fueled by online hate speech, incitement to violence, and a culture of impunity.
The signatories note that these events follow earlier state responses to protests in 2024 involving excessive force and extrajudicial killings, contrasting with the current interim government’s perceived inertia.
The organisations express deep concern over the erosion of the rule of law and the shrinking space for civic discourse ahead of the 2026 elections. They emphasise Bangladesh’s obligations under its constitution and international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to prevent violence, protect lives, investigate crimes, and provide remedies.
Key demands directed at Bangladesh’s interim government include:
– Immediate and effective protection for journalists, media houses, cultural institutions, and practitioners, including security deployment where threats exist.
– Swift, independent investigations into the attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Chhayanaut, and other incidents, with accountability for perpetrators, planners, and instigators.
– Engagement with technology companies to combat online hate speech and incitement.
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– Public condemnation of violence and reaffirmation of commitment to freedom of expression and cultural life.
– Alignment of laws and policies with human rights standards to ensure a safe environment for journalism and civic participation.
The statement concludes: “The state’s duty is neither to silence dissent nor to abdicate responsibility, but to act lawfully, proportionately, and effectively to protect lives, rights, and democratic space… We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh’s journalists, media workers, artists, and diverse communities, and reiterate our commitment to defending freedom of expression, accountability, and the rights of communities to participate safely and freely in civic and cultural life—both offline and online.”
The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from local and international groups, including the International Press Institute (IPI), South Asian media networks, and Bangladesh’s own Editors’ Council and Newspaper Owners Association. Protests have occurred in Dhaka and abroad, such as in London, with calls for justice and protection of press freedom. Authorities have arrested suspects in related cases, and The Daily Star has filed charges against 350–400 individuals over the assault on its office. As investigations continue, the incidents underscore mounting fears over press safety and political stability in Bangladesh under the interim administration.
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