Prothom Alo, Daily Star arson case: Home Minister orders chargesheet within 2-month

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad has directed law enforcement agencies to complete a thorough investigation and file charge sheets within two months in connection with the arson attacks on the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

The minister issued the directive on Saturday after personally inspecting the fire-damaged Prothom Alo office in Dhaka.

Following his visit, the home minister praised the newspaper's resilience, describing its effort to rebuild from the wreckage as resembling "a living museum." 

He strongly condemned the attack, noting that demands for a fair investigation and justice had been raised from the very beginning.

"Communal and extremist forces have tried to halt the march of progress, but history is witness that they have never succeeded," the minister said.

He drew a clear line between the responsibilities of the executive and the judiciary. "The investigation is our responsibility, and the trial is the judiciary's. We have directed the investigating agencies and law enforcement to complete a proper investigation and submit charge sheets within the next two months," he said.

The home minister emphasized that the attacks had damaged Bangladesh's international reputation. "A wrong message has gone out to the world that media outlets in Bangladesh can be attacked at will. Through exemplary justice, we want to send the opposite message — no one can stop the path of progress in Bangladesh," he said.

Referring to the ruling party's election manifesto, Ahmad reaffirmed the government's commitment to a free press and an independent judiciary. "We have come to power with the people's mandate. We need everyone's cooperation to fulfill the promises made in our manifesto," he added.

The acting commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the additional commissioner of the Detective Branch were present during the minister's visit.