Violence erupted in Dhaka late Thursday night after news spread of the death of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Protesters stormed the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Karwan Bazar, vandalising the buildings and setting them on fire around midnight.
The Daily Star Staff Trapped on Rooftop
As flames engulfed the first four floors of The Daily Star building, 30-35 journalists and staff members fled to the rooftop for safety.
An eyewitness said that a group of miscreants set the office ablaze, forcing employees to run upstairs to escape the fire.
Fire Service and Civil Defence teams managed to control the blaze around 1:40am, using a crane to rescue those trapped on the roof.
However, at 2:38am, another mob returned and began vandalising the office again. By 3:10am, army personnel had taken positions in front of the building to stabilise the situation.
Prothom Alo Office Also Attacked
Hours earlier, the Prothom Alo office had also been targeted. Fire service teams arrived shortly before 2:30am and began efforts to extinguish the flames.
House at Dhanmondi 32 Set on Fire
Protesters additionally set fire to the historic house of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32, escalating tensions further.
Protests Spread Across the Capital
Demonstrations broke out at multiple points across Dhaka, with protesters demanding the arrest and punishment of those responsible for Hadi’s killing.
Various student organisations, including the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, brought out processions on the Dhaka University campus, adding to the growing unrest.
+ There are no comments
Add yours