DHAKA, Dec 22: Police have arrested 17 individuals in connection with the violence, vandalism, looting, and arson at the offices of the daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Operations are currently underway to apprehend other suspects involved in the incident.
The information was disclosed during a press conference held on Monday afternoon at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Center on Minto Road. SN Nazrul Islam, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations), briefed journalists on the latest developments.
Identification and Arrests
According to the Additional Commissioner, at least 31 individuals have been identified through the analysis of video footage from the scene. Out of the 17 arrested so far:
- Thana Police: Arrested 13 individuals.
- Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit: Arrested 3 individuals.
- Detective Branch (DB): Arrested 1 individual.
The 11 identified suspects among those arrested by the Thana police are: Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Akash, Ahmed Sagar, Md. Abdul Ahad, Md. Nazrul Islam (Minhaj), Md. Jahangir, Mohammad Sohel Rana, Md. Abdul Barek Sheikh (Al Amin), Rashedul Islam, Sohel Rana, and Shafiquel Islam.
The CTTC arrested Md. Pranta Shikder (Faisal), Ahmmed Pranta, and Abul Kasem Raju Hossain, while the DB arrested Md. Saidur Rahman.
Looted Goods Recovered
The police recovered looted cash from the suspect Naeem, who reportedly used the money to purchase a television and a “touch fridge.” These items have been seized as evidence.
“Many of those who directly participated in these incidents have been caught on video. More arrests will follow,” stated SN Nazrul Islam.
The Additional Commissioner emphasized that while expressing protest or anger is one thing, entering an office to set fires and commit vandalism is entirely different. He described these acts as “unintended” and driven by “bad intention,” vowing that everyone involved would face justice.
Political Identity and Public Cooperation
When asked about the political affiliations of the suspects, SN Nazrul Islam clarified that the police are not looking for political identities. “Those involved in the attacks are miscreants. They broke the law and took it into their own hands. Regardless of their party or views, they will be judged under the country’s existing legal system,” he said.
He also urged the public to assist under Section 44 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows citizens to help apprehend offenders in specific cases. He called for information regarding suspects in this and other cases.
Response to Misinformation and Police Role
Addressing the role of social media, the Additional Commissioner noted that misinformation and provocative posts contributed to the escalation of violence. Regarding the police’s role during the attack, he explained that the presence of 4,000 to 5,000 people made a hardline approach risky.
“Going into a strict operation with relatively low manpower could have led to loss of life. We exercised maximum restraint to ensure no human lives were lost, which we consider an achievement in such a large-scale event,” he said.
Background of the Incident
The violence erupted on the night of December 18 following rumors of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of Inqilab Manch. Protesters gathered at Shahbagh around 9:30 PM before moving toward Karwan Bazar.
Between 11:15 PM and 2:30 AM, thousands of people attacked the Prothom Alo office, followed by The Daily Star. The attackers also obstructed fire service vehicles from reaching the scene.
Prothom Alo has already filed a case regarding the attack, while The Daily Star is in the process of filing its case as they assess the extent of the damage.
