‘NCP leader’ Anwar put on 2-day remand

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed a reported leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Anwar Hossain, on a two-day remand in a case filed over the attack, vandalism, looting, and arson at the office of the national daily The Daily Star.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after hearing a five-day remand petition filed by the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Zahirur Islam of the Cyber and Special Crime Unit of the Detective Branch (DB) of police, Prosecution Division Sub-Inspector Arif Reza said.

On 22 June, the same court placed Anwar on a three-day remand in a separate case filed over the attack on the Prothom Alo office. 

On Sunday, police showed him arrested in The Daily Star attack case and secured a two-day remand.

According to the case statement, around 12:35am on 19 December last year, a group of attackers entered The Daily Star building, allegedly assaulted employees, looted cash and equipment, and set fire to several floors of the building.

The attackers allegedly damaged key infrastructure and electronic devices, and looted cash, causing an estimated loss of nearly Tk40 crore.

Mizanur Rahman, head of operations at The Daily Star, filed a case with Tejgaon Police Station on 22 December over the incident.

On the same day, the office of the Prothom Alo also came under attack and was vandalised, causing losses estimated at Tk32 crore.

Anwar claimed to the media that he is the chief coordinator of the NCP for its Kotwali unit.

He was arrested on 31 May in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur, over allegations of posting derogatory and defamatory remarks about several senior government officials on Facebook.