Fakhrul Calls for National Unity to Resist 'Evil Forces' After Media Attacks

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Publish : 22 Dec 2025, 02:51 PM

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday described the recent mob attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo as a direct assault on democracy, calling for unity beyond political boundaries to resist "evil forces."

Urging every democracy-loving person to come together, he emphasized that those seeking to move from darkness to light must unite to ensure Bangladesh remains a truly independent, sovereign, and democratic nation.

Speaking at a joint protest meeting organized by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at a city hotel, Fakhrul emphasized that the country has reached a defining moment where symbolic protests, such as human chains or expressions of solidarity, are no longer sufficient to protect the under-threat freedom of expression.

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"The time has now come to stand up and resist… all of you who love Bangladesh must come together. We have to resist this evil force," he said.

He urged every democracy-loving individual to move beyond simple awareness and stand together with full strength to ensure Bangladesh remains a truly independent and sovereign nation.

"Those who want to see Bangladesh as a truly independent and sovereign democratic country must do more than be aware. We must stand and resist now. Only forming human chains or expressing solidarity will not be enough. Everyone who loves Bangladesh must unite with full strength to stop this evil force," he added.

The veteran BNP leader expressed deep concern that the current situation does not align with the democratic dreams he and the freedom fighters fought for, noting that these attacks are not just against specific media houses but against the fundamental right of every citizen to think and speak freely.

"It is very clear and there is not much left to explain. It is not just The Daily Star or Prothom Alo that has come under attack – it is democracy itself. My right to think freely and my right to speak have come under attack," he added.

Fakhrul further alleged that the recent violence also undermines the spirit of the July movement, which was originally aimed at establishing people's rights. The meeting, attended by political leaders, editors, journalists and civil society members, served as a platform to demand justice and a thorough investigation into the mob violence that targeted the two national dailies.

With Inputs from UNB

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