Court Grants Three-Day Remand for Suspect in Attack on Prothom Alo Office
Photo Collected
A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for 38-year-old Anwar Hossain, who was arrested in connection with the violent assault, looting, and arson attack on the Prothom Alo office in Dhaka. Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam issued the order on Monday following a hearing, as confirmed by state lawyer Shamsuddoha Sumon.
Hossain, a resident of Laxmipur, is currently in custody in connection with a separate case filed under the Cyber Security Act for allegedly posting defamatory content about political leadership. Investigators from the Detective Branch (DB) of the police, who had originally requested five days of custody, argued that his interrogation is critical to uncovering the mastermind behind the attack, identifying other suspects, and recovering looted property.
The investigation into the incident, which occurred on the night of December 18, has implicated Hossain based on witness statements, video footage, and other forensic evidence. According to the remand application, a group of attackers had used social media to incite violence, drawing a mob of 350 to 450 people to the Karwan Bazar area. The crowd subsequently breached the gates of the Prothom Alo building, causing extensive damage and setting fire to the premises.
Prior to his arrest, Hossain had been associated with the Jatiyo Sromik Shakti, a labor wing of the Jatiyo Nagorik Party. While his name appeared on an initial organizational committee list in October 2024, the group later issued a statement on their verified Facebook page claiming the inclusion was a clerical error and that Hossain maintains no formal ties to the organization. Despite this, he has been observed participating in various programs conducted by the group.
To date, 39 suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Prothom Alo office, with 19 having been granted bail. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 9.
The incident was part of a broader wave of coordinated violence that occurred on the same night, during which the offices of The Daily Star and the Chhayanaut cultural center were also targeted. Police reports indicate that segments of the mob moved between locations to carry out the destruction, followed by an additional attack on the Udichi office the following evening.
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