Bangladesh Journalists Rally After Attacks on Media Houses Amid Nationwide Unrest

December 21, 2025 – Bangladesh – 

Hundreds of journalists in Bangladesh took to the streets in coordinated protests this week to condemn recent attacks on news organisations and demand stronger protections for media workers, following a wave of violent actions that have targeted press institutions and journalists covering nationwide demonstrations. The rallies, held in Dhaka and several major cities, reflect deep frustration within the media community over what participants describe as a climate of hostility, impunity, and insufficient government response to threats against the press.

The demonstrations followed arson attacks on the offices of prominent newspapers — including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star — in the Karwan Bazar district of Dhaka, where mobs stormed and set fire to buildings, causing significant damage to facilities and forcing the temporary suspension of printing operations. Journalists reported being trapped inside smoke-filled offices during the incidents, and many expressed outrage that such assaults occurred with limited immediate protection from law enforcement. (Barron’s)

At the rallies, journalists carrying placards and chanting slogans criticised authorities for failing to safeguard media houses and ensure accountability for perpetrators. Speakers emphasised the essential role of a free and independent press in sustaining democratic dialogue, urging the government to investigate the attacks thoroughly and hold those responsible to account. Several union leaders called for the implementation of concrete safety protocols for journalists covering volatile events and for law enforcement to proactively protect press facilities and personnel.

The rallies drew participants from a wide range of media outlets, including print, broadcast, and digital news organisations, many of whom reiterated that threats and physical assaults against journalists and media properties represent not only an attack on individual workers but an assault on the public’s right to information. Several demonstrators also highlighted recent physical attacks on reporters in the field and threats against minority communities as part of broader unrest linked to political tensions and protests nationwide.

Organisers of the rallies said they plan to maintain pressure on authorities until clear steps are taken to protect journalists and media infrastructure. They also called on international press freedom organisations to monitor the situation and support efforts to uphold journalistic safety and freedom of expression in Bangladesh.

Reference –

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40398762/bangladesh-journalists-rally-after-attack-on-media-houses

https://www.barrons.com/news/bangladesh-journalists-rally-after-attack-on-media-houses-5a4b6dd7

https://kuwaittimes.com/article/37497/world/subcontinent/journalists-rally-after-attack-on-media-houses-in-bangladesh/