The government has provided armed guards to editors of the country’s two leading dailies—Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—along with other individuals, citing security concerns following recent violence linked to the death of Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
A total of 20 individuals, including senior journalists and prominent figures, have been assigned gunmen, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday after a meeting of the law and order advisory committee. Security at the residences of those concerned has also been reinforced, he added.
The adviser said that 17 people have already been arrested in connection with the attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, warning that strict action would be taken against all those involved in the violence.
Hadi, who was critically injured in a shooting, died last Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Following the news of his death, protests erupted in different parts of Dhaka. Later that night, several establishments—including the offices of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and Chhayanaut—came under attack, with incidents of vandalism, looting and arson reported.
In the wake of the attacks, The Daily Star filed a case at Tejgaon Police Station on Monday evening. The case names 350 to 400 unidentified individuals as accused and estimates the damage from arson at around Tk 40 crore.
Earlier on Sunday night, Prothom Alo also filed a separate case with the same police station, accusing 400 to 500 unidentified attackers. Police have since arrested 15 suspects in connection with the Prothom Alo case and sent them to jail.
Regarding the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, the home affairs adviser said law enforcement agencies were giving the matter the highest priority and were actively working to identify and arrest the alleged mastermind, Faisal Karim Masud. However, he said further details could not be disclosed at this stage due to the ongoing investigation.
Responding to reports of a so-called “hit list” involving politicians and other individuals following the killing, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said intelligence agencies had identified those facing potential threats and were ensuring security measures accordingly.
When asked about rumours of his resignation circulating on Sunday, the adviser dismissed them, saying, “Had I resigned, I would not be sitting here.”
