BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said democracy itself has been attacked, not just Prothom Alo or The Daily Star.
He made the remarks at a joint protest meeting titled “Bangladesh affected by mob violence”, organised by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka at 11:30am on Monday.
“I do not know in which Bangladesh we are standing at this moment. I am 78 years old. I have struggled all my life. I wanted to see an independent sovereign Bangladesh. I have never dreamed of the Bangladesh that I see today,” Fakhrul said.
He added that the right to think and speak freely has been attacked, as has the “July War” — which he described as a struggle to establish the rights of the people.
“Not any political thought, not any party, but the time has come for all democracy-loving people to unite,” he said.
The BNP leader urged citizens to rise against injustice: “Those of us who want to see Bangladesh as a truly independent, sovereign, democratic country should not just be aware, we should stand up. Now is the time to stand up.”
NCP convener Nahid Islam alleged that the mob violence following the death of Osman Hadi had political backing.
New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said setting fire to media outlets is not a democratic process: “News media everywhere in the world have their own editorial policies. If you don’t like that policy, arson is not the answer.”
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said journalists at Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were threatened with death.
“That day, 26-27 staff members were trapped inside the building, and the fire service was not allowed to leave. Their intention was not just to set fire to the building, but to kill them,” he said.
NOAB President AK Azad said that when Prothom Alo was set on fire, Mahfuz Anam realised The Daily Star building could also be attacked. “He requested protection, but no one responded. If the fire had burned for another 15 minutes, the journalists would have suffocated and died,” Azad said.
He announced that NOAB will hold a grand conference with journalists from across Bangladesh in mid-January to decide the next course of action.
“I believe the government will bring to justice those responsible for setting fire to Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Chhayanaut, and Udichi,” he added.
Representatives of civil society also attended the meeting, pledging to unite against mob violence. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain and Ganosanhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki were present.
