11 more arrested over attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star offices

NN ONLINE:

Police have arrested 11 more people in connection with the attack, vandalism, looting and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area, raising the total number of arrests to 28.

Of the latest arrestees, nine were arrested on Monday during raids conducted by the Detective Branch police in different areas in the city. The remaining two were arrested by Tejgaon police during the same period, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman said on Tuesday afternoon.

The arrestees area Abdur Rahman, 30; Md Jannatul Naim, 21; Md Faisal, 24; Qari Muaz Bin Abdul Rahman, 33; Jubayer Hossain, 21; Md Almas Ali, 29; Julfikar Ali Sourav, 22; Niaz Mahmud, 28; Mohammad Mainul Islam, 22; Md Hashem, 26; and Arafat Yasin, 29.

According to DB sources, a group of miscreants carried attack on the two newspaper offices on the night of December 18, taking advantage of unrest in Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar areas following the death of Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho.

The attackers vandalised the premises, looted valuables from the Prothom Alo office and later set fire to parts of the building before moving on to attack The Daily Star office at around 10:30 pm, the sources said.

Police have collected CCTV footage from the scenes and launched multiple drives to identify and arrest those involved, they added. Two separate cases were filed with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with the incidents. Legal proceedings against the arrested people are underway, police said.