Mirpur health centre vandalism: Eleven arrested, OC withdrawn, goods recovered

Bangla Press Desk:  Police have arrested 11 people so far over an attack, looting and demolition of Radda MCH-FP Centre in the capital's Mirpur-1 area.

Two truckloads of looted goods have also been recovered.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media and Public Relations Division Md Akter Hossain confirmed on Sunday the arrests and recovery of goods.

Clinic Executive Director Dr Nasrin Akhter filed a case on Saturday with Shah Ali Police Station against Mirpur BNP leader Hanif Mia and 200-250 unidentified people.

According to the case statement, between midnight and 2am on 25 September, a group of 200-250 people, armed with local weapons and wearing masks, took two security guards hostage and raided the clinic.

The attackers allegedly looted the facility and demolished parts of it using heavy machinery.

A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the presence and role of police during the incident and submit its report promptly.

The clinic has been providing primary healthcare, EPI vaccination and family planning services to poor and underprivileged people in the area since 1976.

The case accuses the defendants of trespassing, theft and issuing threats, and claims damages to assets worth more than Tk 15 million.

Earlier, four people were arrested in connection with the incident on Friday.

However, health workers and staff of Radda MCH-FP Centre provided services on Sunday at a makeshift centre in front of the main gate of the vandalised structure of the clinic.

Meanwhile, the Officer-in-charge of Shah Ali Police Station (OC) Jahangir Hossain was closed.

The investigation committee said they were examining the role of police during the incident.

National Citizens Party activists visited the spot on Sunday. They showed their anger and removed the signboard of the Somomona Dokandar Samity from the Radda MCH-FP Centre.