Editor of the Bangla daily Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman on Wednesday vowed that the country’s newspaper community would stand united against any attack on any media outlet.
“If any newspaper comes under attack, we will collectively resist it,” Matiur said at a programme held in front of the Prothom Alo office at Karwan Bazar, marking the inauguration of an art exhibition titled ‘An Artwork on the Attacked and Burnt Prothom Alo Building’ by artist Mahbubur Rahman.
Recalling past incidents, Matiur Rahman said when newspapers such as ‘Jai Jai Din’ and ‘Amar Desh’ came under attack, the Editors’ Council had issued statements condemning the incidents. “Whatever newspaper faces any attack in the future, we will protest collectively,” he added.
Admitting that the media had made mistakes in the past and may not always be flawless, Matiur Rahman said claiming absolute perfection would be unreasonable. “But we must remain united in the greater interest.”
On December 18, a group of miscreants attacked, vandalised and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Karwan Bazar area of the capital.
Speaking at the inauguration, Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said the arson attack on the country’s two leading newspapers was not an isolated incident but a premeditated one.
Urging the new government to conduct a thorough investigation, he said those directly involved as well as those who instigated and fuelled the violence from behind must be identified and brought before the public.
“This was not just an attack on two media outlets; it was an attempt to set fire to free thinking and independent journalism in the country,” he said.
President of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) AK Azad said no ideology can be destroyed by arson. “Prothom Alo could not be finished by fire. Like a phoenix, it has risen again with renewed vigour.”
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Representatives of the Editors’ Council, NOAB, media organisations, journalists, business leaders, artists, writers and literary figures attended the event.
The 10-day exhibition began on Wednesday and will continue until February 28. It will remain open to visitors daily from 11am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm.