Bangladesh Media Sound Alarm After Arson Attacks, Cite Press Freedom Risks

Bangladesh plunged into widespread unrest on December 19, 2025, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old prominent youth leader and spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha platform, who succumbed to gunshot injuries in a Singapore hospital. Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 student-led pro-democracy uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot by masked assailants on December 12 while leaving a mosque in Dhaka. His death triggered overnight protests across the capital and other cities, escalating into arson attacks on major media outlets and properties linked to Hasina's family.

Protesters targeted the offices of Bangladesh's two leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, setting fires that trapped journalists inside and forcing both publications to suspend print and online operations for the day. Staff at The Daily Star were rescued from the rooftop after hours, while Prothom Alo's executive editor described the incident as the "darkest night" for journalism in the country.

Media organisations condemned the attacks as a severe blow to press freedom, with The Daily Star calling it "one of the darkest days for independent journalism". Additional vandalism struck the partially demolished residence of Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—Hasina's father—at Dhanmondi 32, where demonstrators burnt posters of the former leader.

The interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus declared a day of national mourning, strongly condemning the violence and urging calm amid a fragile democratic transition ahead of the February 2026 elections. Authorities deployed army troops and police to restore order, while anti-India slogans surfaced in some demonstrations, reflecting Hadi's known criticism of neighbouring ties under Hasina's regime. Police launched a manhunt for the assassins, offering rewards for information.

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This episode highlights ongoing political instability in post-Hasina Bangladesh, where youth movements continue to influence the landscape. International observers, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, expressed alarm over the media assaults, calling for accountability to safeguard free expression during this pivotal period.

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