OUR CORRESPONDENT, Pirojpur

The attacks on The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were attacks on independent journalism itself, speakers said at The Daily Star’s 35th anniversary celebration in Barishal yesterday.

Speaking at the event, Akon Quddusur Rahman, administrator of the Barishal District Council and BNP assistant organising secretary for Barishal division, said attacks on journalists who risked their lives to inform the public during the country’s political turmoil were barbaric and uncivilised.

“We have witnessed the heinous attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo…. We do not want such incidents to be repeated,” he said at the event held at the Zilla Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

He added that political parties often try to suppress journalism when reports go against them, and stressed the need for both ethical journalism and ethical governance.

Referring to media laws, Akon said civil society members and journalists had strongly opposed the ICT Act when the BNP was in power and the Awami League was in opposition.

“But after coming to power, instead of liberalising the law as promised, the Awami League introduced the Digital Security Act by restructuring parts of the ICT

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