Dhaka, Bangladesh – A night of violent violence that was unprecedented engulfed the center of Bangladesh’s media business on Thursday night 18 December 2025. The offices of two of the country’s most renowned media outlets, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were both burned and ruined by angry protesters. The violence, which occurred in the heavily populated Karwan Bazar, a commercial district, were ignited by the shocking as well as controversial demise of the youth activist Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death caused widespread rage across the capital as well as beyond.
Smoke billowed out of the high-rises while journalists and employees were trapped within their frantic pleas to assistance in broadcasting live via social media platforms in what’s been dubbed one of the most dark sections of press freedom during the recent Bangladeshi history.
Media Headquarters targeted as part of Coordinated Night Assault
The events started around 11:15 pm when a large number of demonstrators of various affiliations with youth and student political groups, congregated at Prothom Alo headquarters. Slogans praising the media as well as the interim government were repeated loudly by the crowd as they broke through security. Furniture was flipped over and computers destroyed, printing presses destroyed, and vital equipment for broadcasting was destroyed during an escalating mass destruction.
At midnight it was poured with accelerants and ignited, turning the floor below into a fiery blaze that quickly consumed the upper levels. Eyewitness accounts, later confirmed by security cameras, showed the extent to which flames consumed stairs, causing people to flee to rooftops or closed conference rooms.
Daily Star Office Becomes Next Target Amid Escalating Chaos
In close proximity To Prothom Alo stands The Daily Star office, which turned out to be the next target of the mob moments afterward. The first and ground floors were fired with the same force. Desks were broken, archives were destroyed and server rooms were filled with water from pipes that burst. Arson was swiftly followed and fires broke out in various locations simultaneously.
Reporters in the huddle described an atmosphere of suffocation as the smoke was sucked through the vents and into doors. Mobile phones recorded the chaos, video footage showed flashing emergency lights amidst dense smoke, and staff banging on windows in search of rescue. A particularly heartbreaking moment was posted on Facebook by Daily Star reporter Zyma Islam on Facebook in a post that was: “Can’t breathe anymore. Smoke is everywhere. I’m inside. You’re causing me pain.”
A desperate attempt to escape is thwarted violent mob
Escape attempts for journalists were often blocked. Fire exits outside that were clearly marked and easily accessible were guarded by people that were in the crowd and wielded iron rods and sticks. A shrewd canteen worker who went down was smuggled in and brutally beaten and his screams prevented others from taking similar risks. Windows were destroyed, but they offered no exit options due to the sheer size and chaos. Inside wet towels were put against faces while air vents were inserted by clothing in a desperate effort to keep oxygen in the air.
Contact with authorities was chaotic. Phone calls to fire and police were met with promises of swift intervention, however delays increased because roads on the surface were closed by burnt debris, abandoned automobiles and burning vehicles.
Operation of Military-Led Rescue in the midst of ongoing Looting
The fire services were finally activated around 1:30 AM, and numerous tenders fighting fires which have spread onto structural beams. Water cannons put out the worst flames on lower floors, establishing temporary safe passageways. However, the situation was unstable; thieves took advantage of the chaos to steal cameras, laptops, as well as cash reserves. Bangladesh Army personnel, deployed under emergency procedures, arrived at 2 a.m. to secure perimeters and set up secure evacuation paths.
Staircases were cleared in a systematic manner, with soldiers creating human chains to lead terrified personnel through the back service exits. The final rescues were completed around 3:45 am following which the locations were sealed off to allow for forensic inspection.
Youth Leader’s Death sparked Nationwide Protests
The wider background of the violence goes back to the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a charismatic student leader of 28 years old who was found dead on the same day in suspicious circumstances. Hadi was well-known for his involvement in anti-establishment protests that took place against his previous government, the Sheikh Hasina government, and was the symbol of youth protest.
There were accusations of foul play directed at supporters of the interim administration headed by Nobel poet Muhammad Yunus, fueling conspiracy theories which spread like wildfire across social media. Protests broke out simultaneously in a variety of areas–Dhaka University’s gates Shahbagh intersection as well as near an Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram where the tricolor was said to have been vandalized.
Newspaper Operations suspended after extensive damage
The two newspapers, which have been regarded as relatively independent and often favorable to reformist causes, released statements expressing their condemnation of the attacks. Friday editions were halted indefinitely and online portals were crippled by server issues and DDoS-like surges in traffic. Editor of Prothom Alo Mahmudul Hasan described the attack as “a serious threat to journalism” noting archived material going to decades ago were erased.
Its administration disclosed the physical printing facilities located in the nearby Narayanganj are also being targeted prior to the attack and suggested that there was a coordinated effort to attack. Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir was seen being beaten by protesters who claimed he was guilty of “corporate bias in the media.”
Police Actions Draw Wider Criticism
The response of the police has drawn a lot of criticism. Journalists have claimed that officers who were stationed nearby remained observers, with a few disappearing after the mob gathered. The official statements stated that “restraint was practiced to avoid an escalated situation,” but recordings contradict the narrative by revealing the absence of intervention until the army’s involvement.
At dawn on Friday, a sombre calm had swept over Dhaka with armored vehicles securing major roads, and army battalions bolstering media zones. Internet speeds were cut in a few areas, purportedly to stop misinformation, but rights groups criticized it as the practice of censorship.
International Community Condemns Press Freedom Assault
International condemnation of the incident poured in quickly. A group called the Committee to Protect Journalists labeled the incident “a direct attack on freedom of the press,” urging UN intervention. Reporters Without Borders called for independent investigation and India’s foreign affairs ministry expressed its concern about threats to its diplomatic property.
In the domestic sphere the Yunus administration has promised to conduct thorough investigation and compensation for any damages but there’s a lot of doubt due to the political turbulence. Analysts point out that this is the most severe media attack since the 2024 revolt which ousted Hasina which sparked a deeper split in the post-revolution coalition.
Journalists reflect on their personal Trauma and the upcoming risks
The human cost extends far beyond the physical. Former journalists have recounted years of fighting dictatorships, military dictatorships, and political wars, but acknowledged that this was a personal experience. Zyma Islam, who is recuperating, told the media: “We report the truth at high cost, but today survival has trumped obligation.” There are questions about accountability. Who coordinated the exact strikes against the media infrastructure? Were political actors exploiting genuine grief over Hadi’s death? Forensic teams dug through ashes to find clues as digital forensics traced controversial posts to fake accounts used to mislead journalists.
Press Freedom Under Siege in Fragile Democracy
As Bangladesh struggles to establish stable democratic institutions, the burning of media institutions can serve as an alarming reminder. Press freedom ratings, already shaky, are set to continue their decline. Rebuilding requires more than mortar and bricks. The trust in institutions has to be restored as well as dialogue ranked higher than destruction. In the meantime, Dhaka awakens to smoldering destruction as a stark reminder when the words of a person are snuffed out by the fire, democracy is set on fire.
