Bangladesh protesters surround key newspaper demanding closure

(CLO) On November 25, protesters in Bangladesh surrounded the office of one of the few remaining independent newspapers, Prothom Alo, demanding its closure because they believe the media supports former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

An angry crowd of about 300 people surrounded the Prothom Alo newspaper office, but were repelled by government security forces with a barrage of tear gas.

Protesters chanted slogans accusing Prothom Alo, Bangladesh's largest Bengali newspaper, of being "anti-Muslim" and "pro-India" biased, with many demanding the paper's immediate closure.

Protesters accused Prothom Alo journalists of supporting Ms Hasina, but the paper's editor-in-chief Sajjad Sharif has strongly denied this. "We have always maintained the highest professional standards in our work and will continue to do so," he said.

Bangladeshi army soldiers stand guard during a protest in front of the Prothom Alo newspaper office in Dhaka, November 25. Photo: AFP

Ms Hasina’s ouster has sparked a series of protests in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, including several radical Islamist groups that have been encouraged to take to the streets. Outside Dhaka, protesters also targeted a newspaper office in the city of Rajshahi and marched through the streets of the port city of Chittagong.

The incident follows protests earlier this month targeting Dhaka's English-language newspaper the Daily Star.

Protester Alif Bin Labib Shuvo, 20, a student injured during an anti-Hasina protest in July, accused both Prothom Alo and the Daily Star of trying to “destabilize” Bangladesh.

“If they don’t change their current strategy, they should shut down,” said Mir Farhad, 35, another protester.

Dozens of journalists, who have been criticised for supporting Ms Hasina when she was in power, are facing police investigations in retaliation for their past work, press watchdogs say.

At least four people are in custody, accused of inciting the crackdown on protesters and rioting in the days before the group toppled Ms Hasina's government.

Ngoc Anh (according to AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nguoi-bieu-tinh-bangladesh-bao-vay-doi-dong-cua-to-bao-quan-trong-post322963.html