The Online Editors Alliance has condemned the recent attacks on the offices of two of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers – Prothom Alo and The Daily Star – expressing grave concern over the safety of journalists and the state of press freedom in the country.
The incidents, which involved vandalism and arson, have drawn widespread criticism from media professionals and rights advocates.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Alliance President Md Hasan Sharif and General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel described the attacks as a direct assault on democratic values and the public’s right to information.
“Attacks on media institutions strike at the heart of democracy, freedom of expression and citizens’ right to know,” the statement said.
The Alliance urged the government to take immediate and visible measures to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media establishments, and to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
It also called for exemplary punishment for those responsible for the attacks.
Emphasising that media independence is fundamental to a functioning democracy, the organisation expressed hope that the interim government and relevant authorities would uphold their commitments to protecting journalists and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel said the Alliance’s condemnation was not limited to the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
He added that the organisation also strongly denounced the assault on New Age editor and Editors’ Council president Nurul Kabir, and expressed hope that those involved would be swiftly arrested and brought to justice through due legal process.