A group of agitated individuals set fire to the office of Dainik Deshsongjog, a Khulna-based newspaper, allegedly in protest over a report that referred to Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister. The incident occurred on Thursday night in the Chhoto Mirzapur area of Khulna city.
According to eyewitnesses and local residents, a group of 30 to 40 people arrived shortly after the Maghrib prayer. They broke the lock of the office shutter, took out furniture and other items, vandalized them, and set them on fire on the street. Nearby residents later brought the fire under control.
Police and journalists visited the scene after receiving information about the incident.
Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station, Hawlader Sanwar Hossain Masum, stated that police were dispatched to the scene upon receiving the report. The identities of the individuals responsible have not yet been determined.
Notably, Thursday’s edition of Dainik Deshsongjog featured a front-page obituary in which former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed condolences over the death of an Awami League leader. In the report, Sheikh Hasina was mistakenly referred to as the current Prime Minister, and several former MPs from Khulna were labeled as current members of parliament. This led to significant backlash on social media.