Bangladesh witnessed a tense and violent night on December 19, marked by coordinated attacks on media houses, widespread vandalism and road blockades across several cities, following the death of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi. The unrest left journalists trapped for hours, newsrooms damaged by fire and authorities scrambling to restore order amid growing concerns over press freedom and public safety.
The epicentre of the violence was Karwan Bazar in Dhaka, where mobs targeted two of the country’s leading newspapers — The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Journalists inside The Daily Star said they received an urgent warning call that attackers were heading towards their office after vandalising Prothom Alo. As staff attempted to evacuate, the mob reached the building, ransacked the lower floors and set parts of the premises ablaze. Thick smoke spread rapidly, forcing 28 journalists to flee to the rooftop on the 10th floor, where they remained trapped for several hours. An attempt by a canteen worker to escape using an external ladder failed after he was beaten by attackers at ground level.
Fire Service personnel later managed to control the blaze and climbed to the rooftop to rescue those stranded. However, with vandalism continuing below, journalists initially refused to descend until Army personnel arrived. Senior journalist Zyma Islam, trapped inside, posted a desperate message on social media saying she was struggling to breathe amid the smoke. Editors’ Council president Nurul Kabir and renowned photographer Shahidul Alam later reached the site to calm the crowd, but Kabir was reportedly harassed, assaulted and labelled an “Awami League agent,” according to videos shared online.
The situation remained volatile as attackers again surged into the building even after parts of the staircase were opened. Journalists were eventually evacuated through a rear fire-exit, with rescue operations concluding around 3:45 am. At least 25 journalists from The Daily Star were brought to safety after more than four hours. Both The Daily Star and Prothom Alo later announced they would not bring out Friday editions, while BBC Bangla reported that online operations were nearly paralysed following the evacuation of staff.
Violence was reported across other parts of the country as well. In Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, the cultural institution Chhayanaut was attacked, looted and set on fire before security forces intervened. In Rajshahi, an Awami League office was demolished using a bulldozer, while in Chattogram, protesters torched the residence of former mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury. Road blockades disrupted transport in multiple districts, including Jhalakathi and Barisal, with students halting traffic on major highways and raising slogans against India and the Awami League. Protests were also reported at Shahbagh, Dhaka University, Jagannath University and other campuses.
As tensions mounted, Inqilab Moncho issued a late-night appeal urging supporters to refrain from violence, vandalism and arson. In a Facebook post, the group warned that unrest would only weaken the country, especially with February elections approaching, and called for stability and cooperation with authorities.
