Attack on Prothom Alo Office: 8 accused put on 2-day remand

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed eight accused on a two-day remand in connection with a case filed over the attack, arson, and looting at the office of the national daily Prothom Alo in the capital’s Karwan Bazar.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat passed the order after police sought a seven-day remand for the accused, Public Prosecutor Shamshud Doha Sumon confirmed.

The accused placed on remand are Md Naim Islam, 25, Md Saidur Rahman, 25, Abul Kashem,33, Md Pranto Sikder, 21, Md Raju Ahmed, 33, Md Sagar Islam, 37, Md Jahangir, 28, and Md Hasan, 22.

According to the case documents, on the night of 18 December, a group of 15–20 people illegally gathered outside the Prothom Alo office, chanting provocative slogans and urging others to join through online platforms.

At one stage, the crowd reportedly swelled to around 350–450 people, who then forcefully entered the building, vandalised property, looted valuables, and set parts of the office on fire.

The attackers allegedly destroyed computers, files, documents, servers, and other equipment worth an estimated Tk32 crore. They also damaged CCTV systems and obstructed fire service personnel while they were trying to control the blaze.

Prothom Alo’s Head of Security Major (Retd) Md Sajjadul Kabir filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station.