9 arrested so far over attacks on Prothom Alo, Daily Star
Law enforcement informed Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus that video footage analysis has so far led to the preliminary identification of 31 suspects believed to be involved in these recent incidents.
Law enforcement agencies have arrested at least nine people in connection with recent attacks on the offices of national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as two cultural organisations, according to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.
The arrests were made through raids in Dhaka and other parts of the country since the incident till this morning (22 December).
Seven of the arrestees have been immediately identified as Md Kashem Faruk, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naim, Faisal Ahmed Pranto, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shafikul Islam.
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The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit and the Detective Branch of the police have also arrested two more suspects, whose identities are currently being verified.
Police and other law enforcement agencies informed Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus yesterday that video footage analysis has so far led to the preliminary identification of 31 suspects believed to be involved in the recent incidents.
Separately, three individuals have been identified through video footage for attempting to create disorder near the residence of the Indian assistant high commissioner in Chattogram, says the Press Wing.
Among the arrestees, Kashem Faruk is a former student of Al-Jamia Al-Islamia Qasemul Uloom Madrasah in Bogura and a resident of Dhaka's Mohammadpur area. Saidur Rahman hails from Noakanda village in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur.
Rakib Hossain, a resident of Sherpur district, was identified in video footage as an active participant in vandalism and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Photos of the damaged premises were posted from his social media account, from which he also shared provocative posts.
Md Naim, a resident of Kunipara in Tejgaon, Dhaka, was arrested in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla along with Tk50,000 looted during the incident. During preliminary interrogation, Naim admitted to looting a total of Tk123,000. Using the stolen money, he bought a television and a refrigerator from Mohammadpur, both of which have since been recovered.
Md Sohel Rana, arrested in the Karwan Bazar rail line area in Dhaka, has 13 cases against him in different police stations in the capital on charges including narcotics offences. Another arrestee from the same area, Md Shafikul Islam, has two previous cases for alleged involvement in arson and cocktail explosions.
Preliminary interrogation of the remaining arrestees is ongoing, police said.
