Dhaka: Police have arrested 11 more individuals in connection with the attacks, vandalism, looting, and arson at the offices of Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital. Detective Branch (DB) police apprehended nine suspects during separate raids across different parts of Dhaka on Monday, while two others were arrested by Tejgaon Police Station, officials confirmed.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the arrests were made following the analysis of CCTV footage from the December 18 attack. With these latest arrests, the total number of people detained in the case has risen to 28 out of the 31 initially identified suspects.
Earlier, The Daily Star filed a case accusing 350 to 400 attackers of storming its office on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue early Friday. The attackers allegedly assaulted staff, looted cash and equipment, set several floors on fire, and sabotaged safety systems. The losses were estimated at Tk 40 crore, leading the newspaper to suspend its print edition on December 19 and halt its online services for 17 hours.
Prothom Alo also filed a case against 400 to 500 unidentified individuals over a similar attack at its Karwan Bazar office. The allegations included vandalism, looting, arson, and attempts to disrupt publication. The case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Special Powers Act, and the Cyber Security Ordinance. Total damages were estimated at around Tk 32 crore, with looted property valued at Tk 2.5 crore.