NGO clinic in Mirpur ‘demolished’ in midnight raid; case filed

Highlights:

• Clinic operator files case against one named person and 200-250 unidentified people
• Organisation says facility had provided primary healthcare and EPI vaccination since 1976
• Operator estimates losses from looting and demolition at around Tk1.5 crore
• Traders’ cooperative claims ownership of the land and contests the clinic’s account

A private NGO-run clinic in Mirpur-1 was allegedly vandalised, looted and demolished in a midnight raid, prompting its operator to file a case against one named person and 200-250 unidentified people.

The incident took place between midnight and 2am today (25 September) at the Radda MCH-FP Centre, according to the clinic authorities.

Executive Director Dr Nasrin Akhter later filed the case with Shah Ali Police Station.

She said the organisation provides primary healthcare, EPI vaccination and family planning services and has operated an outpatient clinic at the site since 1976.

The clinic had also provided free government EPI vaccines and served local residents for nearly 50 years, she said.

Akhter alleged that 200-250 masked people arrived at the clinic late Thursday night carrying a banner of Sammona Dokandar Samabaya Samity Limited and vandalised and looted the facility.

She said the attackers held the clinic’s security personnel hostage before bringing in heavy machinery to demolish the entire premises, including one permanent building and three semi-permanent structures.

The attackers then put up a signboard bearing the name of Sammona Dokandar Samity Limited, she alleged.

Clinic claims Tk1.5 crore loss

The clinic authorities alleged that medicines, vaccines, cash and equipment were looted during the incident.

According to Akhter, the looted items included medicines and vaccines worth around Tk5 lakh, approximately Tk11.40 lakh in cash and an ultrasonography machine worth around Tk45 lakh.

Other items allegedly taken included a generator, three refrigerators, three air conditioners, CCTV cameras, three steel cupboards, five steel filing cabinets, laboratory equipment and reagents, two televisions, two computers, two laptops, two printers, furniture and other belongings.

She estimated the total loss from the looting and vandalism at around Tk1.5 crore.

Asked whether there had been any dispute over the land, Akhter said the clinic had received no notice from the police or any government agency before the demolition.

“We did not receive any notice from the police or any other government institution. They suddenly arrived with trucks and carried out the demolition at midnight,” she said.

The case names Md Hanif Mia, 50, and 200-250 unidentified people as accused.

Confirming the case, Shah Ali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Alam told TBS that police were investigating the incident and trying to arrest those involved.

Traders’ cooperative contests clinic’s claim

Sammona Dokandar Samabaya Samity Limited has disputed the clinic authorities’ account of the land.

The cooperative claims the land was allotted to it in 2006 and registered in its name by the National Housing Authority in 2021.

It said the National Housing Authority later issued a letter seeking the eviction of the occupants from the land.

However, the cooperative claimed the eviction could not be carried out during the previous Awami League government because of the influence of former commissioner Kashem Molla and other local Awami League leaders.

The cooperative further claimed that after 5 August, when what it described as “fascists” fled, the land remained abandoned and its members could not take possession despite having valid documents.