A moment during the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were attacked in Dhaka, Mostakur Rahman Zahid, the newly elected vice president of Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucsu) and president of the university unit Islami Chhatra Shibir, publicly called for the closure of both of the country’s leading newspapers.

Speaking at a protest rally following the death of Inqilab Mancho Spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi on Thursday night (18 December), Zahid told the crowd, “From today’s programme, we declare that Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and other ‘civil’ newspapers must be shut down.”

Zahid further instructed journalists from these two media organisations to leave the protest site immediately. 

Later, a video of his speech went viral on social media.

Earlier that night, attackers stormed the Prothom Alo office in Dhaka, vandalising property, looting, and setting parts of the building on fire. Some of the assailants then attacked The Daily Star office on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, setting fire to the building while several staff members were trapped inside.

During the rally, Zahid also demanded the eviction of the Indian High Commission in Rajshahi.

He further said, “We declare that no Awami fascist teacher will be allowed to conduct classes at RU. We declare that from Hadi Bhai’s blood, thousands of Hadis will be born.”

Criticising the Rucsu VP’s remarks, RU Journalist Association’s secretary Abdus Sabur wrote on Facebook, “Is he speaking as the Rucsu VP or as a Shibir president? At least the university students should understand the condition of their elected representative! Anyway, what the Rucsu and Jucsu VPs are saying – doesn’t that amount to inciting a mob?”

Following the spread of news about the death of Hadi, a protest march took place at RU. The procession began at Shaheed Shamsujjoha Chattar, moved through the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, and ended at Sahab Bazar Zero Point in the city.

During the march, protesters set fire in front of the Awami League office.

At one stage, Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammer announced that the Awami League office would be demolished and replaced with a public toilet. The office was later razed using a bulldozer.