Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday ordered investigators to submit a chargesheet within two months over an arson attack on the offices of two of the country’s leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
Salahuddin Ahmed made the directive after visiting an art exhibition titled ‘Alo’, organised around the fire-damaged building of Prothom Alo in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area.
The exhibition, described by organisers as a reflection on resilience, features burnt computers, machinery parts, furniture, books and official documents recovered from the site.
The minister made the visit on the 11th day of the event at the newspaper’s invitation.
Talking to journalists after the visit, the minister said the investigation agency had been instructed to conduct a fair inquiry and file a chargesheet within the next two months.
“The responsibility of investigation lies with us, while the responsibility of delivering justice lies with the judiciary. We have directed the investigation agencies and law enforcement forces to complete a fair investigation and submit the chargesheet within the next two months,” he said.
Salahuddin strongly condemned the attack and said demands for a proper investigation and justice had been raised from the outset.
He said the incident had tarnished Bangladesh’s international image by creating the impression that media houses could be targeted with impunity. “Through exemplary punishment, we want to send the opposite message to the world — that no one can stop the path of progress in Bangladesh.”
Salahuddin said the efforts by Prothom Alo to recover from the destruction resembled a ‘living museum’, symbolising resilience in the face of adversity.
He also warned that communal and extremist forces might attempt to disrupt the country’s progress, but said history showed they had not succeeded.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman, and Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman were present during the visit.
Referring to the government’s election manifesto, the home minister said the administration was committed to ensuring full independence of the media and the judiciary.
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He said the government, elected with a huge public mandate, required cooperation from all quarters to fulfill its pledges.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said, “I have had to listen to concerns from both the local diplomatic community and abroad regarding the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.”
He added, “Today, we can make a promise that such incidents will not occur again in our country, and this commitment must be shared by the entire society.”
Expressing his condolences, he said, “May they recover from this devastation and continue to carry out their duties as a truly independent media in Bangladesh.”