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Published : 22 Dec 2025, 04:04 PM
A case has been started over the attack on the office of leading national daily Prothom Alo during a wave violence triggered by reports of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi's death on Dec 18.
As many as 400-500 unidentified people were accused in the case filed at the Tejgaon Police Station on Sunday night.
Although the office of The Daily Star, a leading English daily, was attacked and vandalised on the same day, a case has yet to be filed, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner for Crime and Operations SN Md Nazrul Islam.
“As of now, Prothom Alo has filed a case. The Daily Star’s case is pending. This is because they are still assessing the extent of the damage. They will file a case once that is done.”
According to Prothom Alo's complaint, property looted from its office was worth Tk 25 million, and the total damage stood at Tk 320 million, police say.
Meanwhile, police arrested 17 people in connection with the vandalism and looting during the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices.
The arrests were made after analysing video footage of the attacks, Nazrul said.
“Police have so far identified 31 people linked to the attacks, of whom 17 have now been arrested,” Nazrul said.
Those arrested include Md Naim, Md Akash Ahmed Sagar, Md Abdul Ahad, Md Biplob, Md Nazrul Islam Minhaj, Md Jahangir, Md Sohel Rana, Md Hasan, Russell alias Shakil, Md Abdul Barek Sheikh Alamin, Rashedul Islam, Shafikul Islam, Md Pranto alias Faisal Ahmed Pranto, Abul Qasem, Raju Hossain and Md Saidur Rahman.
Asked whether the suspects had political affiliations, Nazrul said police were not focusing on that aspect.
“I am not looking for political affiliation. They are criminals. They violated the law and took the law into their own hands. They will be tried under Bangladesh’s existing laws and judicial system, regardless of which party or ideology they belong to.”
