At least 49 individuals have been arrested in connection with vandalism and looting incidents that took place during Monday鈥檚 pro-Gaza protests at various places across Bangladesh.
In two statements issued on Tuesday morning, both the police headquarters and the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing disclosed this information.
The CA鈥檚 press wing statement also said that two cases were filed in connection with these incidents.
鈥楩urther investigations are under way, and additional cases are being processed to be filed against those responsible for these reprehensible acts,鈥� the statement added.
Till Tuesday, 31 people were arrested in Khulna, 14 in Sylhet and four in Gazipur during joint raids by law enforcement agencies, including the Bangladesh Army.
In Sylhet, an advertisement has been posted on social media for selling footwear looted from Bata outlets.
The man who posted the advertisement was also arrested by police on Tuesday.
Tens of thousands of students, professionals, and general people across Bangladesh held demonstrations throughout Monday as part of a global strike in solidarity with Gazans amid an escalating offensive by the Israeli military.
In some cities, including Khulna, Chattogram, Sylhet, Gazipur, Cox鈥檚 Bazar, and Bogura, demonstrators damaged, vandalised and looted some businesses and restaurants, including KFC, Domino鈥檚 Pizza, Pizza Hut and Bata outlets.
In Khulna city, during the protests on Monday evening, some demonstrators vandalised outlets of KFC and Domino鈥檚 Pizza at Moylapota.
At the same time, some vandalised and looted a Bata showroom at Shibbari.
Sonadanga police station鈥檚 officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday afternoon that since Monday night police arrested 31 people in Khulna in connection with the vandalism and looting of things during the protest.
鈥榃e have sent the arrested people to court,鈥� he said and added that the affected businesses were taking preparations to file cases in connection with the attack and looting incidents.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Sylhet reported that following attacks on different businesses, including KFC and Bata outlets, and looting of goods on Monday afternoon Sylhet Metropolitan Police conducted raids in different parts of the city and arrested 14 people till Tuesday noon on charges of their involvement in the incidents of attacks and looting.
The arrested are Md Rajan 19, Imon, 19, Md Rakib, 19, and Mizan Ahmed, 30, of Kazituta, Md Abdul Motaleb, 35, of Sawdagartala, Sabbir Ahmed, 19, of Goaitala, Md Robin Miah, 20, of Mirer Maidan, Md Mostakin Ahmed Tuhin, 19, of Shahi Eidgah neighbourhood, Md Delwar Hossain, 30, of Dargah Gate neighbourhood, Md Riyad, 24, of Sheikhghat, Md Tuhin, 24, of Baluchar Notun Bazar neighbourhood in the city, Al Nafiu, 19, of Bateshwar Bazar neighbourhood under sadar upazila and Junaid Ahmed, 19, of Companiganj upazila, and Syed Al Amin Tushar, 29, of Noakhali, police said.
Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Md Ziaul Haque said that video footage of CCTVs was being scrutinised to identify those involved in the incidents of vandalism and looting and operations were going on.聽
He said that a businessman had already filed a case with the police station in this connection and preparation was going on to produce them to court showing them arrested in the case.
Protesters from different areas under different banners gathered at Court Point in Sylhet city on Monday and after the Zuhr prayers they marched towards the Chowhatta intersection.
Later, protesters attacked the outlets of the Bata, KFC and Unimart at Zindabazar, Dargah Gate, Mirboxtala and Ambarkhana in the city and looted products.
They also attacked several restaurants and vandalised different beverage products claiming that these were made by Israel, local traders alleged.
Our correspondent in Gazipur reported that four persons were arrested in a joint raid by army and police personnel for vandalising and looting some shops, including Bata showroom, on Monday.
In a press release, Gazipur Metropolitan Police alleged that the incidents of vandalism and looting were acts of a planned sabotage to tarnish the image of the country before the world.
The arrested are Siam Khan Anik, 18, from Noakhali, Shimul Ahmed Shaon, 20, from Notun Bazar area in Mymensingh, Shahin, 19, from Shariatpur and Jainal Abedin, 21, from Gacha in Gazipur.
GMP鈥檚 Gacha police station鈥檚 officer-in-charge Ali Mohammad Rashed said that on Monday afternoon a protest procession marched through Boardbazar area on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
Some of the protesters vandalised and damaged Tripti Hotel, Radhuni Hotel and Bata company dealer鈥檚 office and looted goods from those businesses, he added.
He further said that on information police and army members came to the spots and brought the situation under control by dispersing the crowds.
鈥楢fter checking the video footage of the incidents, raids were conducted in different parts under the Gacha police station and four people were arrested,鈥� he said, adding that a case was filed with the police station in this regard.
Meanwhile, Tuesday鈥檚 statement from the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing read that the police conducted raids the previous night targeting the perpetrators for attacks in several cities on Monday.
鈥楾hese operations will continue until all those responsible for this violence and destruction are apprehended,鈥� it added.
