Thirty-four prominent citizens issued a statement yesterday, expressing grave concern over the protests outside the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka and Chattogram, as well as the attacks on Prothom Alo’s premises in Rajshahi and Bogura.
The signatories urged the government and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety of journalists and media institutions while upholding freedom of expression.
The statement highlighted the November 25 incident at Rajshahi’s Saheb Bazar Zero Point, where a group operating under the banner of “Alem Ulama and Tawhidi Janata” caused disruption, demanding the closure of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
“This kind of brazen violence and intimidation by communal groups is not only an attack on two respected newspapers but also a direct assault on press freedom and journalist safety,” the statement read.
The group emphasized the universal right to freedom of expression and criticized the violent approach taken to address grievances. They stressed that any issues with published content should be resolved through lawful and constructive means, rather than protests or attacks seeking to shut down newspapers, which they deemed entirely unacceptable.
Addressing accusations by some protesters, who claimed the newspapers were “responsible for turning devout Muslims into militants,” the statement called these allegations serious, vague, and lacking evidence. It further called for investigations into whether these accusations and the resulting unrest were part of a deliberate campaign by vested interest groups to spread hatred and achieve ulterior motives.
The statement also recalled the history of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star facing lawsuits, harassment, and blacklisting during past authoritarian regimes. It noted that the current attacks and the misuse of freedom of assembly to incite communal hatred appear to be efforts to destabilize the country and create chaos.
The emergence of a climate of fear was identified as a pressing concern. The signatories called on the government to investigate the instigators and their backers, taking appropriate legal action. They welcomed the Information Advisor’s assurances to address the attacks but urged additional action against those inciting such violence.
The statement concluded with an appeal to the public to remain alert against misinformation and provocation, emphasizing the need for collective action to safeguard press freedom.
The signatories included notable academics, human rights advocates, lawyers, journalists, and social activists, such as Dhaka University (DU) Emeritus Prof. Serajul Islam Choudhury, former Jahangirnagar University Prof. Anu Muhammad, Human Rights Activist Sultana Kamal, Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, Supreme Court Advocates ZI Khan Panna and Subrata Chowdhury, Photographer Shahidul Alam, and Indigenous Rights Activist Hana Shams Ahmed, among others.
