Dhaka, Dec. 22 -- Journalists, politicians, writers, business leaders and civil society figures in Bangladesh have called for a united stand to protect media freedom, questioning the government's response to "mob violence" targeting leading national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

The call came at a protest meeting, titled "Bangladesh facing mob violence", in Dhaka on Monday organised by the Newspapers Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and the Editors' Council following attacks involving vandalism, looting and arson at the offices of the newspapers.

Addressing the gathering, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the attacks went beyond individual institutions.

"An attack on newspapers is an attack on dem...