NOAB: Nationwide journalists’ conf mid-Jan

Protesting recent attacks, vandalism, arson, and looting targeting media outlets, and the harassment of Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir, the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) has announced plans to hold a nationwide journalists’ conference in mid-January.

NOAB President AK Azad made the announcement on Monday while presiding over a protest meeting titled “Bangladesh under Attack of Mob Violence”, organised jointly by the Editors’ Council and NOAB at a city hotel.

The meeting was attended by people from all walks of life, including leaders of political parties, professional and business organisations, journalist associations, and representatives of civil society, expressing solidarity against the attacks. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was among the guests.

Participants condemned the attacks on the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi, describing them as attacks on democracy, culture, and the core spirit of the nation.

Following the meeting, attendees formed a human chain along Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in front of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel.

In his speech, the NOAB president called for unity to resist such incidents, reiterating, “Our voices cannot be silenced. To that end, based on your opinions, we will hold a conference with the participation of journalists from all over Bangladesh in mid-January. From there, we will announce the next programme.”

He said the movement will continue until those who set fire to these organisations are brought to justice and until journalists are given freedom of expression.

Referring to the attacks on the two newspapers, Azad said following the Prothom Alo incident, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam had requested protection from various government agencies and individuals, but received no response.

Miscreants attacked the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices on Thursday night, soon after the death of Inqilab Moncho Spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi spread around.

They vandalised, torched, and looted the offices. Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir was also harassed by mobsters.

On the same night, the miscreants also attacked Chhayanaut and the next day Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi office.

They wanted to burn people to death in a medieval manner: Nurul Kabir

Nurul Kabir, also editor of New Age, said the attackers’ intention was to kill people inside the media. “When everyone was working in the office, they set fire from all around. They wanted to burn people to death in a medieval manner by obstructing the fire service.”

“While media may follow its own editorial policy, burning it is not a democratic process. If such violence is not prevented, not only newspapers but the entire social system and prospects of development are at risk,” he said.

Right to life over freedom of expression: Mahfuz Anam

In his speech, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said the issue now extends beyond freedom of expression to the fundamental right to live.

Recalling the horrific attack, Mahfuz Anam said 26-27 of their colleagues were trapped on the roof. “Yet the fire brigade was prevented from coming. What does this mean? They did not come just to burn the building. Rather, they wanted to kill the journalists.”

Reiterating that the country faces a grave threat where the right to life itself is at stake, he called for unity and collective resistance against mob violence.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam alleged that a section of the interim government, supported by long-term social engineering and political backing, was behind the attacks.

“The violence was a planned crime, not a spontaneous public reaction. The perpetrators exploited the slogans of the July uprising and the death of Osman Hadi to legitimise their attacks.

Without government involvement, social consent, and political support, this would not have been possible,” he said.

Nahid, also former information minister, reiterated that they will not allow attacks on media houses or institutions in the name of the July uprising.

Blaming the interim government for the attacks, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “Mobocracy has taken root at the heart of the state, inside the Secretariat. Those in power now consider these forces as the pillar of their power structure. The government’s silence during the attacks is concerning.”

Former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury highlighted attacks on education and culture, questioning why institutions like Chhayanaut were targeted, while Shireen Huq, founder of Naripokkho, condemned the government’s inaction.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair described the attacks as unacceptable, demanding that the culprits be brought to justice.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Ganosamghati Andolon’s Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki described the attack as “planned”, warning that using slogans of the July uprising to justify violence undermines the government’s legitimacy.

Renowned photographer Shahidul Alam, Barrister Sara Hossain, human rights activist Rehnuma Ahmed, and representatives of various political, journalists, business and civic organisations also spoke at the meeting.

Speakers unanimously emphasised that the united resistance of journalists, writers, intellectuals, and professionals is necessary to protect media freedom and strengthen democracy.