The president of Bangladesh's Editors' Council has made a serious allegation, stating that a section of the country's interim government permitted violent attacks on major media houses and a cultural centre in Dhaka. The accusations point to a disturbing nexus between political forces and the assault on free press and cultural expression.
Allegations of Government Complicity in Organized Attacks
Nurul Kabir, who heads the Editors' Council and serves as the editor of the daily New Age, asserted that "some part" of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government allowed the vandalism and arson that targeted the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as the cultural centre Chhayanaut. These attacks occurred in the capital, Dhaka, following the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 18.
Kabir made these remarks during the 6th Broadcast Conference of the Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC), with information and broadcasting adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in attendance. He argued that the attacks were pre-announced and known to authorities. "It is clear that announcements had been made one or two days prior to destroy Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and Chhayanaut. Everyone in this country knows who made these announcements, including the government," Kabir stated.
Political Conspiracy Theories and Arrests
Kabir emphasized that under Bangladeshi law, such public threats constitute a criminal offence. He questioned why the government did not act preemptively to arrest those who made the announcements and prevent the destruction. "They had already announced that these would be destroyed. That is why we have said that at least some part of the govt allowed this to happen," he explained. He described the assailants as an "organised force" and noted that those already arrested in connection with the incidents have clear political affiliations.
These allegations emerge alongside other conspiracy theories swirling in Bangladesh's tense political climate. The brother of the slain radical leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, has accused a faction within the interim government of orchestrating the killing. His motive, he claims, was to delay the parliamentary polls scheduled for February 12. He has also warned that if Osman's attackers are not tried swiftly, they could face a fate similar to that of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
BNP Leader Points to Election Postponement Conspiracy
Adding another layer to the controversy, BNP leader Tarique Rahman has linked Osman's killing to a suspected "conspiracy" aimed at postponing the national elections. Rahman, who recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years of self-exile in London, was the first prominent political figure to publicly make this connection, further fueling speculation about the motives behind the violence and its timing just months before the scheduled polls.
The situation highlights the heightened political tensions in Bangladesh as it approaches a crucial electoral period. The attacks on institutions like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, which are pillars of the nation's independent journalism, and Chhayanaut, a revered cultural centre, represent a direct assault on civil society. The allegations from a top editors' body chief suggest a troubling level of official tolerance or even complicity, raising urgent questions about the rule of law and the protection of democratic spaces in the country.
