Dhaka, Dec. 23 -- A joint call comes for a united resistance against mob violence like arson attacks and threats targeting media houses which are termed "deliberate attempts to silence critical voices through fear and intimidation".

Journalists, politicians, writers, business leaders and civil-society representatives at a joint protest organised by the Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) Monday made the call and warned that the recent mob attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star constituted a "direct assault on press freedom, democratic values and the right to dissent".

Stressing that safeguarding freedom of expression is a collective responsibility, the speakers urged an impartial investigation,...