Nine people arrested in connection with attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star
Law enforcers say at least 31 suspects have been identified through video footage in connection with recent attacks on media and cultural organisations.
Law enforcement agencies have arrested at least nine people over recent attacks on the offices of national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as two cultural organisations, following raids in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Seven of those detained have been identified as Md Kashem Faruk, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naim, Faisal Ahmed Pranto, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shofikul Islam. The identities of two others arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit and the Detective Branch (DB) are still being verified.
Police and other agencies informed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday that at least 31 suspects have so far been preliminarily identified through analysis of video footage related to the incidents. Authorities also said video evidence has helped identify three individuals involved in attempts to create unrest near the residence of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chattogram.
Among the arrestees, Kashem Faruk is a former student of Al-Jamia Al-Islamia Qasemul Uloom Madrasa in Bogura and a resident of Mohammadpur in Dhaka, while Saidur Rahman is from Noakanda village in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur.
Rakib Hossain, from Sherpur district, was seen in video footage actively taking part in vandalism and arson at the newspaper offices and allegedly shared photos and provocative posts on Facebook.
Naim, a resident of Kunipara in Dhaka’s Tejgaon, was arrested in Cumilla’s Chauddagram upazila with Tk50,000 believed to have been looted during the attack. During preliminary interrogation, he reportedly confessed to looting Tk123,000, some of which was used to buy a television and a refrigerator from Mohammadpur. The items have since been recovered.
Sohel Rana, arrested from the Karwan Bazar rail line area, has 13 previous cases filed against him in Dhaka, including narcotics-related charges. Shofikul Islam, detained from the same area, has two prior cases involving arson and cocktail explosions.
Police said interrogation of the remaining arrestees is ongoing.
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