Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the Chief Adviser, has expressed profound regret over his inability to secure timely assistance during the violent attacks on two major media outlets.
He detailed receiving frantic, tear-choked calls for help from journalist friends at The Daily Star and Prothom Alo during the incidents. He stated that he made scores of calls to the right people, trying to mobilise help, but acknowledged that such aid did not arrive in time.
Shafiqul Alam said he finally went to sleep at 5am, only after knowing that all journalists trapped inside The Daily Star building had been rescued and were safe. By that time, however, the newspapers had already witnessed and endured one of the country’s worst mob attacks and arsons on media outlets.
Addressing his colleagues directly, Shafiqul Alam offered a heartfelt apology, stating, “To all my friends, I am deeply sorry that I failed you.”
He further expressed his distress as a former journalist, writing, “I do not know what words could console you. All I can say is that as a former journalist I am sorry. I wish I could dig up a great piece of earth and bury myself in shame.”
