Photo: Collected
Law enforcement authorities are preparing a list of officials who allegedly failed to prevent violence in the capital during the recent quota reform movement. Senior personnel from Police Headquarters and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are overseeing this process.
The most horrific vandalism in recent memory was carried out during this quota reform movement. The vandals selectively attacked government installations. Specifically, terrorists attacked Bangladesh Television (BTV) and occupied it for nearly two and a half hours. Due to their rampage, BTV's broadcast was shut down for almost 24 hours. Additionally, the Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway toll plaza, Setu Bhaban, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), National Disaster Management ((NDMC) building, and hundreds of vehicles were burned to ashes. Terrorists blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway for nearly three days.
Three policemen were killed during the entire movement. Police officials are looking into how responsible the police in the field level were or why they failed to suppress such large-scale vandalism. Attention has also been given to preparing a list of these officials who failed in their duty in the field level.
Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Joint Commissioner of DMP, said, “At every location, they attacked police, journalists, and state installations. They tried to overthrow the government in the name of quota reform movement. Police tried their best to resist. However, if there was any negligence in duty performance or errors by anyone, we are trying to bring that matter to light. If anyone's fault is detected in this, the matter will be considered accordingly.”
However, multiple senior police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this was a very large movement. A very subtle plan was made to infiltrate impressionable students and carry out such rampage. Thinking they were students, police did not initially resist strongly. But when they became violent, then resistance was formed. And especially the police were targeted. Three policemen were brutally beaten to death.
They are saying that they are looking at how the officials in the filed level directed their forces. They are also examining at what point they failed, which allowed the terrorists to take advantage. Some faults and deviations have already been detected. A list of these officials is being prepared. Senior officials will consider their case.
Upon inquiry, it was learned that Police Headquarters has already transferred the Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of eight police stations in the capital. Among the transferred OCs are Parvez Islam of Dhanmondi Police Station, Mahfuzul Haque Bhuiyan of Mohammadpur Police Station, Humayun Kabir of Khilkhet Police Station, Farukul Alam of Kafrul Police Station, Siddiqur Rahman of Darussalam Police Station, Sheikh Sadiq of Turag Police Station, Aminul Bashar of Dakshinkhan Police Station, and Shaker Mohammad Zubayer of Kamrangirchar Police Station. There are rumours within the police that they were transferred for failing to gather advance information and take effective measures in dealing with conflicts and violence.
Upon inquiry, it was learned that when terrorists attacked BTV, officials repeatedly called police officers for help but did not receive any. Officials are saying that if police had taken immediate action, at least the rampage inside BTV could have been prevented. Taking this opportunity, terrorists also attacked Rampura Police Station. Hayatul Islam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division of police, was personally present during the BTV attack.
Similarly, terrorists rampaged in Badda, Vatara, and Banani under Gulshan Division. Specifically, they burned down Setu Bhaban, National Disaster Management Building, and the Elevated Expressway toll plaza. In Badda, police retreated into the Canadian University. Later, RAB helicopters rescued them from there.
In Uttara, terrorists attacked the East Police Station. They publicly stripped and killed Jubo League activist Jewel Molla and hung his body. They rampaged for a long time. They also failed to stop the rampage of terrorist protesters there.
Additionally, protesting terrorists blocked the road from Jatrabari to Signboard for several days. The most horrific incident in Dhaka happened in this area. Terrorists also attacked Kadamtali Police Station. Terrorists brutally beat and killed a policeman and hung his body.
Hayatul Islam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division, said, “We had no shortcomings in dealing with the situation. This was a terrible conspiracy.”
Hasanuzzaman Molla, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Division, said, “We all dealt with the situation responsibly. We gave our best effort.”
Masudur Rahman Munir, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Wari Division, said, “We gave our best effort. I don't want to say anything more than this.”
Incidentally, the capital Dhaka turned into a scene of destruction with attacks and arson in the name of quota reform movement. Various government installations were attacked during the violence. Metro rail movement has been stopped due to attacks on metro stations. Important documents were burned in arson attacks on Setu Bhaban and the Directorate General of Health Services.
Additionally, internet services were disrupted due to arson at data centres, and broadcasts were stopped due to attacks on BTV in Rampura. Two metro rail stations were reduced to rubble by miscreants' attacks. Ticket vending machines (TVMs), monitors, and various indicator boxes were vandalized. This has rendered the TVM machines inoperable. Moreover, computers used for passenger services and maintenance were stolen by the attackers. The entire Setu Bhaban was burned down by the fire set by miscreants. At least 55 cars were burned in the fire.
Important documents of various projects including the Elevated Expressway and Padma Bridge were also damaged. Important documents of the Directorate General of Health Services were burned due to arson at the Director General's office. Motorcycles, cars, and production sets were burned to ashes in the fire at the BTV building in Rampura. 20-25 cars were burned. The whole country was disconnected from internet services due to arson at data centre. A car of the Dhaka Divisional Director, office, and a bus were burned in a fire at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) building in Mirpur. Additionally, in the ongoing movement, there has been extensive damage due to arson at the Mohakhali toll plaza of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Mirpur Indoor Stadium, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Banasree office, and the Drug Administration building in Dhanmondi.
The law enforcement officials said that police and journalists were the targets of the attackers. The attackers infiltrated the quota reform movement. Then, as part of a conspiracy to overthrow the government, they began to carry out targeted attacks.
Messenger/Disha
