Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the international organisation advocating for journalists' rights, has condemned the recent violent protests and attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Rajshahi and Bogura.
In a statement published on its website on Wednesday (27 November), RSF described the incidents as unacceptable and urged the Bangladeshi government to put an end to such attempts at intimidation.
The RSF statement highlighted that protesters launched violent attacks on several offices of these two independent newspapers, expressing strong disapproval of such actions.
"In a nation where a secure environment for journalists and media outlets to present diverse viewpoints is imperative, these attacks must cease immediately," the statement emphasised.
The protests included a particularly notable incident in Rajshahi, where 200 protesters attempted to storm the Prothom Alo office and vandalised its signboard. The violent demonstrations, reportedly orchestrated by radical religious groups with anti-India sentiments, aimed to discredit the newspapers by branding them as so-called "Indian agents."
RSF also noted that similar protests occurred outside the headquarters of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo in Dhaka, as well as other regional offices.
RSF South Asia Bureau Chief Céline Mercier expressed deep concern over these acts of violence.
"RSF condemns the unacceptable attacks and intimidation targeting The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Despite retaliatory legal harassment, these newspapers have strived to maintain impartiality under Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian regime. It is now the interim government's responsibility to ensure that these outlets can operate freely without harassment or restrictions," she said.
Mercier further urged a thorough, impartial investigation into the instigators and perpetrators of the recent violence.
"It is crucial to take necessary legal actions against those responsible for inciting and carrying out such violent attacks to prevent journalists' work environments from becoming increasingly unsafe," she added.
RSF has repeatedly called upon Bangladesh's interim government to implement structural reforms to protect journalists, reiterating its stance in light of these troubling developments.
