An unruly mob attacked the office buildings of The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s leading English-language daily, and the Prothom Alo newspaper in Karwan Bazar after midnight on Thursday, sources said. Arson was reported during the attacks, which created panic in the area following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent frontliner of the July Uprising, who was shot on 12 December.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, duty officer Md Shahjahan said they received information about the fire at around 12:28–12:40am. A fire service unit was immediately dispatched to the scene, and operations to extinguish the blaze were underway at the time of reporting. Army personnel also arrived promptly and assisted the fire service in controlling the fires.

The disorderly crowd reportedly set fire to parts of the buildings and adjacent roads, further worsening the situation. No immediate details were available regarding the extent of the damage.

Sources said the attacks were reportedly instigated via social media following news of Hadi’s death.

Law enforcement and army personnel quickly reached the scene to restore order, while firefighters worked to douse the flames.

The Fire Service confirmed that assessment of the damage was ongoing, and further details will be released once the situation is fully under control.