Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, publicly apologized following violent attacks on the offices of national dailies The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. In a verified social media post on December 19, Alam expressed deep regret for failing to protect journalists who called him in distress during the incident. He said he made numerous calls seeking help but assistance arrived too late to prevent the destruction.

The attacks occurred on the night of December 18, when an angry mob vandalized and set fire to the two media houses in Dhaka. Alam, a former journalist himself, described the events as one of the most severe assaults on the press in the country’s history. Professional journalist associations, including BFUJ and DUJ, have strongly condemned the violence and demanded accountability.

The incident has raised serious concerns about press freedom and journalist safety in Bangladesh. Authorities are under pressure to investigate the attacks and ensure protection for media workers amid growing tensions between the government and independent news outlets.