Court grants two-day remand for suspect in attack on The Daily Star office

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A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for 32-year-old businessman Md. Saiful Islam in connection with the attack, vandalism, and arson targeting The Daily Star’s headquarters in the capital’s Tejgaon area. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Hasib Ullah Piyash issued the order on Thursday following a hearing in which investigators sought to interrogate the suspect further.

Investigating officer SI Md. Zahirul Islam, representing the Detective Branch’s (DB) cyber and special crime division, had initially requested seven days of police custody. During the proceedings, the prosecution argued that a review of the suspect’s social media activity and testimony provided by previously arrested individuals indicated his direct involvement in the incident. Authorities state that interrogation is essential to recover stolen property and identify other accomplices involved in the organized attack.

The prosecution alleges that the suspect, who owns SKM Leather Ltd., participated in a coordinated assault that began at the Prothom Alo office at approximately 11:15 p.m. on the night of the incident. Police claim he later posted inflammatory content on Facebook calling for attacks on The Daily Star, subsequently participating in the violence, vandalism, and looting at that office around 12:35 a.m. Investigators reported that they have already seized an iPhone and five screenshots related to the attacks from the suspect, who was apprehended at his home in Kamrangirchar on July 6.

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Counsel for the defense, Advocate Mohammad Mofazzal Hossain, argued for the suspect’s release, maintaining that he was merely in the Karwan Bazar area for business purposes during a time of widespread unrest. The defense lawyer contended that the suspect was not involved in the destruction of property or arson and questioned the targeting of his client while others who criticized the media outlets remained at liberty.

However, investigators noted that the suspect has already admitted to being present at the scene during preliminary questioning, and his identity was corroborated by CCTV footage of the events. The case stems from a series of attacks on December 18, which led to charges under the Penal Code, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Special Powers Act, and the Cyber Security Ordinance. To date, approximately 40 people have been arrested in connection with the synchronized assaults on both The Daily Star and Prothom Alo offices.