Bangladesh unrest escalates as Dhaka newsrooms remain shut

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 December 2025 |  JP Asia Desk

Violent protests in Dhaka have led to the shutdown of major newspapers after they were attacked. Authorities are calling for calm and assessing the damage.

Summary

DHAKA — Violent protests linked to the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi continued into Friday in Bangladesh’s capital, a day after demonstrators stormed and set fire to the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Authorities maintained heightened security across parts of Dhaka as tensions remained volatile.

Both news organizations confirmed that damage to their offices and technical infrastructure forced a temporary suspension of print and online operations. Staff members who had been trapped inside the buildings during Thursday’s attacks were evacuated safely following emergency response efforts, according to local media reports.

Newsroom evacuations and operational shutdowns

Video footage and eyewitness accounts documented chaos inside the newspaper compounds as protesters breached the premises and fires broke out, sending journalists and support staff scrambling for safety. Emergency responders later secured the sites, and no official casualty figures related to the newsroom attacks were released.

The Business Standard reported that all journalists and staff members were rescued without loss of life, though the extent of structural and equipment damage remained under assessment. Media managers said restoration of normal operations would depend on safety conditions and repairs.

Condemnation and political response

Press freedom organizations and Bangladeshi media associations condemned the attacks, warning that targeting newsrooms during political unrest undermines journalist safety and the public’s right to information. The Committee to Protect Journalists and local editors’ groups called for accountability and stronger protections for media workers.

Government officials publicly denounced the violence and urged protesters to maintain calm, stressing that attacks on media outlets threaten stability during a sensitive political period. Analysts note that Bangladesh has a history of strained relations between political movements and the press, particularly during periods of intense polarization.

With national elections scheduled for 2026, media observers say the ability of major outlets to operate without intimidation will be critical for independent election coverage. While security forces have pledged to restore order, newsroom leaders continue to press for concrete measures to prevent further attacks and ensure accountability for those responsible.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on information from Al Jazeera, Daily Sun, The Business Standard, and Mint.

PHOTO: Illustrative image showing police interacting with media.