An unruly mob, Dec. 19 -- 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.

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