Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) will hold a joint protest meeting today to denounce recent mob violence and attacks on media and cultural institutions, raising alarm over press freedom and democratic values. The meeting, titled “Bangladesh Affected by Mob Violence”, will take place at 11 this morning in Dhaka. Leaders from political parties, journalists’ bodies, professional groups and civil society are expected to attend.
The organisers said the protest was prompted by a series of coordinated attacks, including vandalism, looting and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as assaults on cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi.
Editors’ Council President and New Age editor Nurul Kabir was also physically attacked during the violence.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions following controversial remarks by Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Mostakur Rahman Zahid, who publicly called for the closure of the two leading newspapers, drawing sharp criticism from journalists and rights activists.
