Violence erupted outside the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, on Sunday evening as protesters gathered for a demonstration over alleged "pro-India" stances by the newspaper.
The protest, which involved a "ziafat" with cow slaughtering event, led to clashes with police and the use of sound grenades. Army personnel were later deployed to help control the situation.
A group of individuals, active on social media, had been accusing Prothom Alo of being "pro-India" and organised the protest under the name a "Ziafat" programme. On Sunday afternoon, the protesters gathered outside the office, claiming to hold a "Ziafat" event. As police attempted to disperse the crowd, tensions escalated into a confrontation.
The protesters brought two cows with the intention of slaughtering them as part of the programme. After being stopped by police, they moved to a nearby location near Pragati Bhaban, where the slaughter took place. Despite multiple attempts to remove the group, the situation escalated further into violence as the evening progressed.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner for Crime and Operations, Md Israel Hawladar, confirmed disturbances near the Prothom Alo office and assured that law enforcement had brought the situation under control.
The group, identifying themselves as the "People of Bangladesh," has been targeting Prothom Alo and Daily Star with protests under the slogan "Prothom Alo and Daily Star Ziafat to Prevent Indian Aggression." Similar protests had been held in recent days, including one where participants said Friday prayers outside the Daily Star office.