The reason journalists were on the mob target list in Bangladesh.

Thousands of shouting demonstrators poured into the capital city of Dhaka and other cities, burning down the buildings of the most popular media groups as well as another connected to the previous prime minister Sheikh Hasina, whose father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, owns 32 Dhanmandi.

In a statement issued by the government of President Yunus, it said it “strongly and unequivocally” denounces all forms of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of property and appeals to all citizens of Bangladesh to resist all forms of mob violence that were committed by a few fringe elements.

“The country has seen its courage and its tolerance threatened with terrorism. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth. We promise you full justice," read one of the messages.   “But I would like to assure that the government is standing with those journalists threatened by mobs. To the journalists of Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age: We are with you. We are deeply sorry for the terror and violence you have faced," said the government.

Focus on the democratic change that the country was undergoing, it was stated, “"This is a critical moment in our country’s history. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace."

It also highlighted the significance of upcoming elections and a referendum, referred to as "no less than political exercises, but a solemn national commitment."

Describing Hadi as a martyr, it said, “This promise is interwoven with the dream Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi has sacrificed his life for. Remembering this memory requires us to control ourselves, be responsible for ourselves, and totally abstain from hate.”

The statement also disapproved of a lynching of a Hindu in Mymensingh, saying, "There is no scope for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of such a horrible crime will not be spared."

“We thoroughly disapprove of the lynching of a Hindu in Mymensingh. Such acts had no place in the new Bangladesh, and the culprits who committed this barbaric act would get no reprieve,” said the minister.

“This critical time calls upon all our citizens to honor the memory of Saheed Hadi through refusal and resistance to violence, incitement, and hate,” it said.

As reported by witnesses and also by news sources, there were hundreds of protesting Muslims who flooded the capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, shortly after the death of Hadi, gathering in Shahbagh Square in the area near Dhaka University, who chanted 'Allahu Akbar,' which is 'God is Great' in Arabic.

Later, some agitated persons gathered around the headquarters of the largest Bengali daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka, the country’s capital city. The protesters Gain stormed into their office and burnt it down, according to some of the largest online news portals.

A few hundred meters away, a group of demonstrators stormed the office of the largest English daily in the country, the Daily Star. They were able to set the building on fire. This was revealed by video evidence provided by another major newspaper, Kaler Kantha.

Army troops and paramilitary forces were deployed around the two buildings but didn’t make an attempt to remove the protesters. Security officials attempted to convince them to disperse peacefully as the fire brigade was approaching the Daily Star building. It is reported that the students were protesting the death of two students in an altercation.

The fire engulfed employees of the newspaper who happened to be present in the office late Thursday. One of the members of staff of the Daily Star, Zyma Islam, was reported on Facebook to have been in the building.

By early Friday, the situation was brought under control. Both the dailies stopped updating their online editions after the attack. Neither of them published broadsheets on Friday.

In Prothom Alo, executive editor Sajjad Sharif was quoted as saying, “I am deeply saddened that, despite our utmost efforts, our newspaper couldn’t come out because of vandalism and arson.”

"This is not only an attack on Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, but it is an attack on the freedom of the press, of expression, of dissent, and of diversity of opinion," he told Reuters.

The critics of these newspapers, which are the largest in this South Asian country, are accusing them of having a biased approach in favor of their Indian neighbors, where the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has been taking political asylum since she resigned in 2024.

The Rise of Anti-India Sentiments in Bangladesh

Hadi was a bitter critic of India and also of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule in Bangladesh ended with last year’s uprising. Inqilab Moncho Front, formed in the wake of the ousting of Hasina last year, has been conducting street protests against India and Hasina. Islamist groups in the country, as well as anti-Hasina groups, have accused the Hasina administration of being too subservient to India. Hadi had also decided that he will contest in the forthcoming national elections as an independent candidate in a large constituency in Dhaka. February has even been decided by the country’s current interim government as the month for the national elections. Since the fall of Hasina, the Inqilab Moncho group has been instilling anti-Indian sentiment among the population, who are mostly Muslims. However, this is happening right under the nose of the Yunus administration, which has been accused of allowing jihad groups to do as they please. Also in place are plans for staging that the murder is carried out by supporters of India despite sharp disapproval by India of this situation. There are incidents involving stone pelting at the Deputy High Commission’s office and also at the residence in Chattogram. Videos are flowing that show radical groups at play. Also in Dhaka, there is an attempt by radicals to approach the Indian High Commission. They managed to breach the barricades, shout anti-India slogans, and even make threat statements. Due to that, they managed to be controlled by the police.