Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque has said that a group of “misguided” individuals carried out acts of sabotage at several media offices to create opportunities for a third party. He warned that attacks on the media are an ominous sign for democracy.

Nurul Haque made the remarks on Saturday evening while speaking to journalists after visiting a national daily’s office damaged by arson.

He said the nation is grieving over the death of Inquilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. Exploiting this public emotion, a group of misguided individuals has carried out planned acts of sabotage to create instability in the country and to pave the way for a third party.

According to Nurul Haque, multiple media offices were attacked and vandalized. In addition, the editor of an English-language daily was publicly harassed and humiliated, which he described as highly condemnable.

The Gono Odhikar Parishad president said that attacks on the media are not merely assaults on journalists but direct attacks on the foundations of democracy itself.

He further said that following the announcement of the national election schedule, incidents such as a public shooting and subsequent arson attacks on media offices have deeply alarmed the public. Such consecutive incidents are raising serious concerns about the country’s stability.

Nurul Haque believes that such developments, occurring fifteen months after the mass uprising, send a negative message about the country to the international community and expose weaknesses in law and order as well as state governance.

He warned that continued violence could delay the election or make it uncertain, which would not benefit anyone. Without an elected government, he said, it would be impossible to steer the country in the right direction or ensure stability.

Calling on the public, Nurul Haque urged people not to fall into provocations or conspiracies that could push the country into another crisis. He said the process of national reconstruction is underway and requires participation from all. That reconstruction, he added, must be completed through a democratic election.

Senior leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad, including Faruk Hasan, Hasan Al Mamun, Abu Hanif, and Shakil Uzzaman, were also present at the time.