Govt failure to curb attacks, grabbing embarrassing

The government’s failure to curb incidents of attacks, vandalism, illegal grabbing and extortion has been embarrassing for the ruling party, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said in a statement yesterday.

The organisation condemned the recent attack on Radda MCH-FP Centre, a healthcare facility in Dhaka’s Mirpur, vandalism of content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio, and BNP factional clashes over control of a water body in Kishoreganj that left more than 50 people injured.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

It called for impartial investigations, accountability, and exemplary punishment to those responsible, and urged the ruling BNP to launch a nationwide drive to reform its ranks.

The health centre was looted, vandalised and grabbed at midnight right in the presence of police, allegedly with the backing of a reserved-seat MP, said the TIB statement citing media reports.

Terming the incident an “embarrassing example” for the government and the ruling party, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman questioned the message the party was sending by allowing the demolition of a facility that had served poor mothers and children for decades.

The reckless conduct of the previous authoritarian government is still fresh in public memory. In this context, have the BNP’s policymakers ever thought of the consequences of grabbing and extortion by a section of the party’s leaders and activists?

Iftekharuzzaman , TIB Executive Director

“The reckless conduct of the previous authoritarian government is still fresh in public memory. In this context, have the BNP’s policymakers ever thought of the consequences of grabbing and extortion by a section of the party’s leaders and activists?” he asked.

He warned that continued allegations involving BNP leaders and activists could erode the public mandate the party received after the July uprising.

Iftekharuzzaman also said government inaction and public remarks downplaying extortion risk normalising such practices and send an ominous sign for the government.

He termed the Kishoreganj clashes as a continuation of events that have taken place since August 2024 that are sufficient to overshadow all of the government’s good deeds and initiatives.

Iftekharuzzaman urged BNP to honour its electoral pledges to combat corruption and take immediate, effective steps to clean up its ranks, the statement added.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) also expressed concern and condemnation over the reported attack, looting and destruction of the Radda health centre in Mirpur-1 and the alleged attack and looting at Salman Muqtadir’s studio in the ECB Chattar area.

The statement, undersigned by HRSS Executive Director Ijajul Islam, called for independent investigations into the incidents, recovery and safety assessment of looted vaccines and all other items, swift restoration of the centre’s operations, and urged the authorities to bring those involved to the book.

In another statement, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) expressed deep concern over the attack, looting, vandalism and demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1, Dhaka, using heavy machinery.

Such attacks on healthcare facilities not only destroy institutional assets but also severely disrupt people’s right to healthcare, particularly for low-income and disadvantaged communities, it said.

BLAST called for a prompt, impartial, transparent and effective investigation into the attack, looting, vandalism and destruction.

It also called for identifying all those directly and indirectly involved and taking appropriate legal action against them. It urged the authorities to take steps to restore the affected healthcare facility’s assets and infrastructure.