They came like robbers, wreaked havoc, ransacked, set buildings on fire and celebrated the destruction.
Thankfully, no one died, although journalists were trapped in the chaos, drowning in the smoke with death staring them in the face.
Ultimately, the fire was extinguished, the perpetrators dispersed and the injured were injured, but a deep scar remained on the media landscape.
That burnt-out building of Prothom Alo has recently been transformed into an exhibition of art with the title ‘Alo’, which reflects the fearless spirit of the profession, encapsulating the steadfast message: Look through the dark shadows, the light never fades!
Artist Mahbubur Rahman, in his inaugural address, spoke about the eerie void he faced amid the charred remains.
The artist said, the darkness that surrounded me had many layers one after the other, each layer was denser and more powerful.