RSF condemns attacks on Daily Star, Prothom Alo

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned attacks on the offices of two prominent independent newspapers in Bangladesh, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.

The press freedom organisation urged authorities to end such acts of intimidation and work towards rebuilding a safe and pluralistic media environment in the country.

"RSF condemns the unacceptable attacks and attempts of intimidation against The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. The two newspapers tried to maintain their independence at all costs under Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian regime, despite the legal harassment they suffered in retaliation. It is now up to the interim government to help them to work freely, without restrictions or harassment," said Celia Mercier, head of RSF's South Asia Desk.

"An impartial, thorough investigation into the instigators and perpetrators of the recent violent attacks -- and the necessary subsequent legal proceedings -- are crucial to curbing the development of an unsafe work environment for journalists," she added.

In its report, RSF highlighted multiple incidents of violence targeting these newspapers, with coordinated attacks carried out on their headquarters in Dhaka and several regional offices. In Rajshahi, around 200 protestors attempted to storm Prothom Alo's office, vandalising its signboard.

RSF said the attacks are orchestrated by "radicalised anti-India religious groups," who accused the newspapers of being "agents of India and promoting values contrary to Islam.

The attackers issued demands for the newspapers to shut down unless they issued public apologies and retracted their allegedly "anti-Islamic" stances. A concurrent smear campaign on social media further fueled hostility toward the media outlets.

RSF emphasised the urgent need for Bangladesh's interim government to implement reforms to safeguard journalists.