Violent mob attack on Prothom Alo causes Tk32cr destruction
The report detailed that the assailants physically assaulted employees inside the building, vandalised furniture, and looted various items
The offices of Prothom Alo in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, suffered extensive destruction, looting, and arson, resulting in an estimated loss of Tk32 crore, according to a police report submitted to the court today (22 December).
Tejgaon police sent 15 accused individuals to court in connection with the attacks.
The report, signed by Tejgaon police inspector (Operations) Abdul Hannan, stated that damages caused by the assailants through vandalism and arson could increase after further verification.
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The case was filed at Tejgaon police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other relevant sections by Major (Retd) Md Sajjadul Kabir, head of Security at Prothom Alo.
According to the police report, on the night of 18 December, around 11:15pm, a group of 20–30 unidentified individuals armed with domestic weapons, sticks, and incendiary materials attempted to attack the Prothom Alo office. On-duty police prevented the direct attack. Failing to breach the security, the assailants gathered outside, chanting provocative slogans to incite public unrest. The assailants also called other accomplices to join the site.
The report detailed that the assailants physically assaulted employees inside the building, vandalised furniture, and looted various items. They broke the glass in front of the building, threw sofas, tables, chairs, and other office equipment from the upper floors, and set them on fire in piles. The attackers deliberately created panic among the public, disrupting the newspaper's operations.
In addition, the assailants targeted the newspaper's equipment and assets, including more than 150 computers and laptops, valued at approximately Tk1.75 crore, as well as Tk75 lakh kept in various lockers. They also looted books and other materials from Prothoma Prakashan's sales outlet on the ground floor. The attackers set fire with the intent to harm journalists and staff and destroy the building.
The fire damaged critical infrastructure, including the company's servers, accounting records, negotiable instruments, insurance documents, contracts, official papers, archival data, and personal belongings of employees. CCTV cameras and NDRs were deliberately destroyed to eliminate evidence of the attack.
