Bangladesh mob violence targets media
Bangladesh’s top media editors have warned that threats against journalists have turned into a fight for survival after the killing of a prominent youth leader triggered violent attacks on newspaper offices last week.
Last year, 32-year-old Sharif Osman Hadi, a leading figure in the student-led uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot in the head by masked assailants as he launched his campaign for February parliamentary elections in Dhaka. He died in a hospital in Singapore on Thursday.
His killing sparked widespread protests that turned into arson and vandalism targeting major media outlets and cultural institutions. Among those attacked were the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.
While the attackers accused the newspapers of “serving the interests of India and Sheikh Hasina”, editors vehemently denied the allegations. Following her dismissal, Hasina fled to India and remained in New Delhi despite Dhaka demanding its extradition.
Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, said at the protest meeting organized by the Council of Editors and Bangladesh Newspaper Owners Association on Monday that journalists received open death threats.
“We saw messages on social media saying that journalists of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo should be caught and killed in their homes,” Anam said.
“Freedom of expression is no longer the main issue. It is now the right to survive.”
Bangladesh ranks 149th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Rights groups say continued attacks on journalists and activists could further narrow civic space ahead of the election.
Council of Editors President and New Age editor Nurul Kabir, who was attacked while trying to save her colleagues, accused the attackers of attempting to burn journalists alive in their offices.
Bangladesh is governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and will elect a new parliament on February 12. The interim government blamed external elements for the violence and promised full justice for the attacks.
Police identified 31 suspects in connection with the attacks and arrested nine, Yunus’ press office said in a statement on Monday.
