An unruly mob, incited by ex-journalist Elias Hossain, attacked and set fire to the office building of The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s leading English-language daily, early Friday, creating panic in the area following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontliner of the July Uprising.

Soon after news broke that Hadi, spokesman of Inquilab Moncho, had died from gunshot wounds sustained on December 12, Elias Hossain — who commands a large following on social media — posted on Facebook instructing his followers to set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

Prothom Alo was attacked first, and Hossain later posted again urging supporters to target The Daily Star, after which the mob moved to its office and carried out the arson.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, duty officer Md Shahjahan said they received information about the fire at around 12:40am, following which a fire service unit was dispatched to the scene.

Members of law-enforcement agencies, particularly personnel of the Bangladesh Army, reached the spot soon after the attack and took position to restore order.

Firefighters began operations to douse the flames upon arrival. During the incident, the disorderly crowd also set fire to the adjacent road, further worsening the situation. Army personnel later assisted the fire service in bringing the fires under control.