Case Filed Over Attack on The Daily Star Office; Tk 40 Crore Damage Claimed

Dhaka — A case has been filed against 400 unidentified individuals in connection with the violent attack, vandalism, arson, and looting at the office of English daily The Daily Star. The newspaper authorities have claimed losses amounting to Tk 40 crore.

Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kayshenu confirmed the filing of the case on Monday night (December 22). He said, “The Daily Star’s Head of Operations, Mizanur Rahman, lodged the complaint. Investigation is underway, and efforts to arrest the accused have already begun.”

According to the First Information Report (FIR), at around 12:25 a.m. on December 19, between 350 and 400 unidentified miscreants armed with local weapons, sticks, and flammable materials gathered unlawfully in front of the newspaper’s office. They chanted provocative slogans in an attempt to incite public anger and disorder.

The complaint further stated that several online activists had posted incitements on social media prior to the attack. Following these instructions, the mob broke through the steel gate and glass doors of the building, stormed inside, and carried out widespread vandalism and arson.

Attackers attempted to assault journalists and staff members, destroyed furniture, and set fire to the ground floor, second, and third floors. They also vandalized and looted offices from the fourth to the eighth floors.

The FIR noted that more than 200 computers, laptops, cameras, servers, printers, studio equipment, and other electronic devices worth an estimated Tk 5 crore were destroyed or stolen. In addition, approximately Tk 35 lakh in cash kept in lockers was looted.

The attackers fled the scene around 4:30 a.m. as law enforcement presence increased. Fire service and police jointly rescued 30 journalists and staff members trapped inside the building.

Video footage and CCTV recordings of the incident have been broadcast across various media outlets. The Daily Star authorities have demanded strict legal action against those involved once the investigation and full assessment of damages are completed.