Following the death of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, journalists of the country’s leading vernacular daily Prothom Alo have demanded the identification, arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attack on the newspaper’s office at Karwan Bazar in the capital late Thursday night.

The demand was made from a human chain formed in front of the organisation’s office on Friday afternoon in protest against the attack carried out on Thursday night.

Speaking on behalf of the institution, poet and writer Sajjad Sharif,  who is also the paper's executive editor, said: “We demand justice for this incident and we protest against it. There must be a proper investigation. Those involved must be identified and given exemplary punishment.”

He further said that an attack was carried out on the Prothom Alo office late Thursday night, at a time when the newspaper’s journalists were working at night to prepare the next day’s edition.

Sazzad Sharif further said, “A vested interest group carried out the attack in a planned manner, centring on the death of Sharif Osman Hadi. Our journalists were at risk of their lives. They were forced to leave their work and go away without publishing the newspaper.”

Prof Yunus talks to Prothom Alo, Daily Star editors

He also said that for the first time in 27 years, the newspaper could not be published, and its online platform has also remained shut since last night.

“This is a severe attack on freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the freedom of the media in Bangladesh,” he added.

At the same time, not only Prothom Alo but also The Daily Star has been attacked, he said. “We want to state clearly that this is a black day for the media and for freedom of speech.”