The death of 32-year-old Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader from Bangladesh, has led to fresh protests across the country. After news of his death spread, hundreds of his supporters gathered in Dhaka, the capital city, to express their anger. The protest soon turned violent, with some demonstrators attacking media offices and causing serious damage.

Late at night, a large crowd marched towards the office of the Bengali-language newspaper Prothom Alo. Witnesses said that protesters were chanting slogans as they reached the building around 11 pm. The situation quickly worsened when parts of the building were vandalised. Around midnight, the protesters set the Prothom Alo office on fire, causing panic among nearby residents and media staff.

Soon after, the mob moved towards the office of The Daily Star, another leading English-language newspaper in Bangladesh. A phone call warned journalists inside the building that a violent crowd was approaching. Staff members tried to move to safer areas, but the mob had already begun vandalising the ground and first floors of the building. The protesters then set the building on fire, filling the newsroom with smoke.

A journalist from The Daily Star, Zyma Islam, posted a desperate message on Facebook saying she could not breathe due to the heavy smoke. She said she was trapped inside and pleaded for help. To save their lives, night-shift staff members moved to the terrace of the building. According to reports, at least 25 journalists were rescued after being trapped for nearly four hours.

Firefighters managed to control the fire around 2 am, but the rescue operation continued for several more hours because the crowd remained aggressive. Eventually, the Bangladesh Army and Fire Service safely evacuated all the staff. A journalist later thanked the army on social media, praising an army officer for leading the rescue operation with bravery.

During the violence, Editors’ Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir was also attacked. Videos from the scene showed a mob pulling his hair and beating him. The army has now been deployed outside The Daily Star office to prevent further violence.

It is still unclear why Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, both known for their cautious support of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and the interim government, were targeted in the attacks. Authorities have not yet released detailed information about the investigation into the violence or the motive behind targeting media houses.