A Dhaka court on Sunday placed three individuals, including a research officer of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE), on a four-day remand in a case filed over arson and the theft of laptops from the directorate’s store room in Mirpur area of the capital.
The accused are Md Ziad Ali Biswas, research officer and store in-charge; Humayun Kabir Khan, store keeper (Master Roll); and Shahid Hossain, data entry operator.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam granted the four-day remand after the investigating officer produced the trio before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court with a seven-day remand prayer to ensure a proper investigation.
Meanwhile, Asmaul Islam, a cleaner at the directorate, reportedly gave a confessional statement in the same case.
His statement was recorded by the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana following an application by the investigating officer.
Sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam of the prosecution department confirmed the developments.
According to case details, a fire broke out on the second floor of the new building’s store room at the Directorate of Primary Education in Mirpur-2 on 1 May.
Upon receiving the news, a Fire Service team reached the spot within 15 to 20 minutes and brought the blaze under control.
Subsequent review of CCTV footage revealed that five unidentified individuals had broken into the store room on 1 May by cleverly breaking the locks.
An inventory following the incident disclosed that out of 735 laptops stored in the room, 450 remained in good condition, 33 were partially damaged, 29 were severely damaged, and 140 were completely burnt.
However, 83 laptops were found to be missing from the facility.
Md Sajjad Hossain, assistant director of the directorate, filed the case as the plaintiff with the Mirpur Model Police Station.
