Attacks on Star, Prothom Alo: Home minister orders probe report within two months
“With the attacks, a message went to the world that fanatic forces were in a strong position in Bangladesh and could attack any media outlet at will. Our image was tarnished, and we were ashamed.”
The unprecedented attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have tarnished Bangladesh’s reputation globally, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Speaking to reporters after visiting “Alo” (Light), an exhibition portraying Prothom Alo’s endeavour to rise from the ruins, at the newspaper’s charred building yesterday afternoon, he also said he has directed police to submit charge sheets over the attacks on the newspaper offices within two months following a fair investigation.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, prime minister’s advisers Zahed Ur Rahman and Mahdi Amin, and National Citizen Party leader Sarjis Alam also visited the exhibition, in the presence of Transcom Group Chief Executive Officer Simeen Rahman and Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman.
Afterwards, Salahuddin Ahmed and Khalilur Rahman visited the torched office of The Daily Star on the capital’s Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. The premises were vandalised and set on fire, trapping 28 journalists and staffers inside at the time.
On the night of December 18, 2025, coordinated mobs attacked and set fire to the offices of two of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers and the cultural institution Chhayanaut in Dhaka.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF PROTHOM ALO
The following evening, the central office of Udichi Shilpigosthi, another cultural organisation, was also attacked and burned.
Outside the Prothom Alo office in the capital’s Karwan Bazar, Salahuddin further told reporters, “With the attacks, a message went to the world that fanatic forces were in a strong position in Bangladesh and could attack any media outlet at will. Our image was tarnished, and we were ashamed.
“By ensuring exemplary punishment, we want to send an opposite message to the world -- that extremist and fanatic forces cannot hold back the progress of Bangladesh.”
He added, “We [the BNP] strongly condemned the attacks when they occurred. But now, as I am in charge of the home ministry, the Prothom Alo family and the community of journalists, writers, intellectuals and litterateurs all have one demand -- a proper investigation.”
The home minister said the Detective Branch of police is currently probing the incidents and has been instructed to conduct the investigation fairly before submitting the charge sheets within two months.
“Our duty is to ensure a fair investigation, while the judiciary will carry out the trials in the cases linked to the attacks.”
Salahuddin, who is also a standing committee member of the ruling BNP, sought public cooperation to ensure justice and prevent the recurrence of such heinous acts.
About the exhibition, he said it felt like a “living museum”.
“They [Prothom Alo] have tried to show how one can rise from the ruins. What we have seen and learned is that communal extremist forces may try to pull back the rope of progress, but history shows they have never succeeded.”
Referring to the BNP’s election manifesto, he said, “In our manifesto, we said we want an independent media and will ensure full freedom of the media. We also believe in the full independence of the judiciary and will establish that as well.”
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman termed the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star antithetical to a civilised society.
“I had to face questions from the diplomatic community at home and abroad due to this attack. Our heads have bowed down in shame internationally.”
He said no government can shirk responsibility for such attacks and that this government will ensure a proper trial and exemplary punishment.
“The attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were something we had never seen before. It was an attack on the independent media. Intimidation, arson, destruction of lives and property, and vandalism cannot be part of a civilised society.”
Referring to the BNP’s mandate, the foreign minister said, “This mandate is the strongest in Bangladesh’s history. From the government’s side, we will keep our word.”
Expressing sympathy for the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star families, he said he hoped they would rebuild their institutions from the rubble and ashes and resume their work as truly independent media in Bangladesh.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring media freedom, describing any attack on the press as an attack on civilisation itself. “We are pledge-bound to protect press freedom. A close look at the trail of destruction suggests that an anti-civilisation mindset was at work.”
Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said a certain quarter had “manufactured consent” over a long period to carry out the attack. “We have ousted Sheikh Hasina’s autocracy and fascism. We will not allow fascism to be re-established here. We did not fight to have newspapers shut down; we fought to build a democratic Bangladesh.”
Later, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen also visited the exhibition at the Prothom Alo office, as did politicians, writers, journalists, artists and representatives of civil society.
During his visit to The Daily Star, the home minister, accompanied by the newspaper’s Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, examined the heavily damaged ground, first and second floors before visiting the newsroom.
DMP Acting Commissioner Md Sarwar, Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon Division) Ibne Mizan, DB Chief Shafiqul Islam, along with other police officials, also visited both newspaper offices.
Following the twin attacks on the two dailies on December 18, two cases were filed -- one by Prothom Alo and one by The Daily Star -- on December 22. So far, 37 people have been arrested.
The court set March 8 for the probe report in The Daily Star case and March 5 in the Prothom Alo case.
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