The names of several BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders have emerged in connection with the demolition and looting of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1, Dhaka.
Although 12 people have been arrested so far, several people allegedly involved in planning and leading the attack are yet to be brought under the law.
Based on CCTV footage, accounts from local residents and businesspeople, and interviews with multiple sources, The Business Standard’s investigation found that a group of people gathered in front of the offices of local BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders near Shah Ali Police Station shortly before the attack. Some of them later headed towards the health centre.
CCTV cameras in the area also captured a white microbus and several motorcycles moving around the health centre during the attack.
The investigation further found that the excavator used to demolish the health centre had been hired in advance.
The excavator operator and owner told TBS that Shahadat Hossain, cashier of Somomona Dokandar Samabaya Samity, had contacted them to hire the machine. Shahadat has since been arrested.
Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Naser told TBS, “The investigation is ongoing. It would not be appropriate to disclose details before the investigation is complete. Everyone involved in the incident will be brought under the law. We are not under any pressure. We are trying to arrest everyone involved in the incident.”
People gathered near police station before attack
CCTV footage shows a group of people gathering in front of the offices of BNP leader Hanif Mia and former Shah Ali thana Chhatra Dal convener Abul Kalam Azad alias Lenin near Shah Ali Police Station at around 12:04am on Friday (25 September).
Around 46 minutes later, at about 12:50am, some of those gathered were seen heading towards the health centre. TBS has identified several people seen in the footage.
The man wearing a yellow T-shirt was identified as Arif, a former joint convener of Shah Ali thana Chhatra Dal.
Shamim, wearing a red T-shirt, and Hasan, wearing a cap, are also locally known as former Chhatra Dal leaders and followers of former Chhatra Dal leader Abul Kalam Azad alias Lenin.
In another CCTV footage, Shamim, the younger brother of BNP leader Hanif Mia, who is the prime accused in the case, was also seen at the scene, according to the law enforcement investigation.
A section of the attackers went to an area near the health centre and collected sticks, machetes, hammers, and other locally made weapons. Some then entered the health centre with cloths wrapped around their heads and masks covering their faces.
The names of Awlad Hossain alias Nada Awlad, joint general secretary of Shah Ali thana Chhatra Dal, and Md Ilias, joint convener of BNP’s Ward 93 unit, have emerged in connection with the demolition.
The name Arafat has also surfaced, although his identity could not be confirmed.
Bulu and Kabir alias Takku Kabir were seen patrolling on motorcycles, allegedly monitoring the situation outside while the health centre was being vandalised and looted.
Who was in the white microbus?
A white microbus was seen moving around the area near the health centre during the incident.
According to CCTV footage obtained by TBS and sources involved in the investigation, BNP leader Hanif Mia, Abul Kalam Azad alias Lenin and former member secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan Jubo Dal Mostafa Jaglul Pasha alias Papel were among those inside the microbus, along with several others.
Sources involved in the investigation said those inside the microbus were monitoring developments at the scene and giving instructions during the attack and demolition.
Hanif Mia and Abul Kalam Azad alias Lenin are locally known as close associates of former reserved women’s seat lawmaker Ferdousi Ahmed Misti. Lenin has put up banners and posters in the area as a potential candidate for councillor of Ward 8.
Locals said Hanif, a relative of Ferdousi Ahmed Misti, is also interested in contesting for councillor from the same ward.
The police investigation team suspects that Ferdousi Ahmed Misti was also inside the vehicle. However, she was not seen in the CCTV footage.
Misti denied any involvement in the attack in comments to TBS, saying she did not know how her name became linked to the incident.
She said she had signed an application for allocation of land in the name of the association when she was a ward commissioner in 2006, but had no further involvement with the association.
TBS contacted Lenin and Papel for comments but could not reach them.
Hanif also took part in a human chain organised by Somomona Samity the day after the health centre was demolished.
Hanif Mia told TBS, “I am not involved in this incident. I do not know why my name was included in the case.”
However, Mirpur DC Hasan Mohammad Naser told TBS that Rikabdar Abu Hanif was absconding and said, “Attempts are being made to arrest him. At the same time, we are trying to arrest those whose names are not mentioned in the case but whose identities have been confirmed through various footage and the investigation.”
Where did the excavator come from?
The excavator seen in CCTV footage during the demolition of the Radda centre had been hired from the Mirpur Beribadh area.
Speaking to the excavator operator, TBS learned that he received a phone call at around 4pm on Thursday (24 September) asking him to remove materials from a location.
He was later told that a building would be demolished and the site cleared for the construction of a shopping mall. However, the operator became suspicious after reaching the site and seeing the situation there.
The operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he saw a group of people gathering at the site and decided not to take the excavator any further before leaving.
He said Shahadat Hossain, cashier of Somomona Dokandar Samabaya Samity, had contacted him to hire the excavator.
After the first excavator left, Maruf, a former joint secretary of Shah Ali thana Chhatra Dal, arrived at the scene with another excavator. Another person named Soleman assisted him.
As the night progressed, masked men entered the health centre.
According to the case statement, the attackers held two security guards hostage before breaking the main gate with a hammer and other equipment. At one point, the second excavator was brought in and used to demolish the health centre.
One concrete and three semi-concrete buildings, along with various parts of the health centre, were demolished. Medical equipment, medicines, vaccines, furniture and office materials were also looted.
After the buildings were demolished, a signboard and banners of Somomona Dokandar Samabaya Samity Limited were put up at the site.
Information obtained by TBS suggests that the looted goods were later moved to different locations. Several houses were identified based on CCTV footage and searched.
Police later recovered 46 types of items, including furniture, vaccines, registers, refrigerators, office documents, printers and generators looted from the health centre, from an area near Beribadh in Darus Salam Police Station area. Two covered vans allegedly used to transport the looted goods were also seized.
12 arrested so far
The 12 people arrested so far in the case are Md Sohel, 22, Md Juel, 23, Jihad Hasan, 21, Md Rabbi, 20, Shahadat Hossain, 33, Kazi Mokbul Hossain, 58, Shah Alam, 53, Atikur Rahman, 33, Kamrul Islam, 52, Shakil, 20, Md Mintu, 35, and Md Milon, 45.
Healthcare continues amid rubble
Although one concrete and three semi-concrete buildings have been demolished, staff at the health centre are continuing to provide limited medical services and vaccinations in front of the rubble.
The health centre had long provided healthcare, vaccination, family planning and other services to low-income people, mothers and children. The demolition has disrupted regular ultrasonography, diagnostic tests and medical services.
Yesterday (28 September), the health centre’s own signboard was put up again, and initiatives were taken to resume medical services alongside reconstruction work.
Dr Nasrin Akhter, executive director of Radda MCH-FP Centre, told TBS, “We are still not completely free from fear. The government must ensure that we can work here uninterrupted in the future. We want a permanent solution from the government so that no other miscreants like Somomona Dokandar Samabaya Samity can carry out such an attack again.”
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