The law enforcement agencies have arrested 17 individuals and identified 31 others in connection with recent vandalism and arson attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
The arrests were made following a thorough analysis of video footage of the incidents, said Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), SN Md Nazrul Islam, at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre in the capital on Monday.
The arrestees have been identified as Mohammad Naim, Mohammad Akash, Ahmed Sagar, Md Abdul Ahad, Md Nazrul Islam (alias Minhaj), Md Jahangir, Mohammad Sohel Rana, Md Abdul Barek Sheikh (alias Al Amin), Rashedul Islam, Sohel Rana, Shafiqul Islam, Md Pranto Shikdar (alias Faisal), Ahmed Pranto, Abul Kashem Raju Hossain, Md Saidur Rahman, and two others.
Daily Star on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in the capital. The attackers eventually set both offices on fire.
Responding to questions about police actions during the attacks, Nazrul Islam said that between 4,000 and 5,000 people were present at the scene.
"A forceful crackdown with limited manpower could have resulted in casualties," he said, adding that restraint was exercised just to avoid loss of life.
He further explained if the police had intervened during the attacks, gunfire could have erupted, potentially causing two to four fatalities. And this could have triggered retaliatory attacks on law enforcement, which is why no immediate action was taken.
He said the police force had recovered from the trauma inflicted during the July uprising and reached this level. At this time, further casualties would have made it impossible to continue operations, particularly ahead of the upcoming national election.
"That is why police did not intervene immediately, ensuring no lives were lost."
"The fact that no human life was lost in such a major incident is our achievement. Material losses can be compensated, but human life, once lost, cannot be restored," Nazrul added.
The DMP official, however, assured that law enforcement would take appropriate measures if such incidents take place in the future.
He also said that the police do not allow large gatherings in areas such as Shahbagh and near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, calling on journalists to counter the spread of false and fabricated information on social media in the interest of social stability.
Nazrul confirmed that a case had been filed against the attackers under the Cyber Security Act, Special Power Act, Special Security Act, and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com