The Daily Star office in the capital’s Karwan Bazar was evacuated on Friday afternoon following a police warning regarding a potential attack. Employees left the premises quickly for their safety at approximately 5:30pm after police advised that the building be cleared within 10 minutes.
Journalists from the newspaper and police personnel on duty confirmed that the precautionary measure was taken based on intelligence reports. According to these reports, tensions were rising in Shahbagh, and a group had already reached Banglamotor, with the possibility that they might head towards Karwan Bazar.
By 7pm, police personnel were seen taking up positions in front of the main gate of the office. While no official statement was provided, officers on duty mentioned that the measures were implemented following orders from senior officials.
A journalist present in an adjacent alley observed a person livestreaming or taking photographs near the building during the evacuation. The individual was last seen crossing the overbridge towards Karwan Bazar around 7pm.
Although no acts of sabotage occurred, a sense of panic persisted among the staff.
This incident follows a previous attack on 18 December last year, when a group of protesters targeted and looted the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.
That attack was triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho, and was fuelled by online incitement from various groups.
During the December incident, the offices were set on fire in the presence of law enforcement, trapping several journalists on the roof due to heavy smoke. They were eventually rescued around midnight by the Army, while the Fire Service worked to extinguish the flames.
