The latest quota-reformation movement by the students has left marks of mayhem in Bangladesh as infiltrators allegedly transformed the nature of demonstration into ‘anti-government protest’ by vandalising and setting fire to several public establishments in the last couple of days.
According to media reports, Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka—the epicenter of the movement--has borne the most burnt of the mayhem.
Till 19 July midnight, just before the government imposed curfew with the deployment of military forces, protesters vandalised and carried out arson attacks at Setu (bridge)Bhaban, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) headquarters in Chairman Bari area, old building of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Directorate of Disaster Management (DDM) headquarters in Mohakhali and Banani areas.
Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Moreover, they set fire to Dhaka North City Corporation’s (DNCC) regional office-3, a Database centre, Institute of Nutrition, and two toll plazas of Elevated Expressway in the area.
Hundreds of protesters destroyed the main building of state-run broadcaster Bangladesh Television in Rampura. They also rampaged the nearby pump station and Hatirjheel unit office of Dhaka WASA.
Some protesters vandalised Metro Rail Stations at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara, BRTA office and set fire to the police box at Mirpur-10 intersection, and destroyed Mirpur Indoor Stadium at Mirpur-6 area. The protesters also set several waste transfer trucks on fire in Mirpur.
Separate groups of protesters carried out arson at Police Bureau of Investigation’s (PBI) Banasree office, an Ansar camp at Badda, Kadamtali Police Station, a toll plaza of Mayor Hanif Flyover at Kajla, Matsya Bhaban (Department of Fisheries headquarters) at Ramna, and Drug Administration Bhaban at Tejgaon.
In Uttara and Mohammadpur, some other protesters attacked Metro Rail Depot and vandalised regional offices and community centres of DNCC. A separate group also vandalised BEPZA Bhaban at Dhanmondi area.
Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Numerous vehicles of law enforcement agencies, police boxes, unit offices of Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), private properties and industries were either vandalised or put on fire across the country.
In Narsingdi, arsonists attacked Narsingdi District Jail and looted valuables, arms-ammunition and food. As they broke the jail defence, at least 826 inmates, including nine accused militants, fled.
Arsonists also attacked Narsingdi District Council office and Madhabdi Municipality office.
In Narayanganj, attackers vandalised Narayanganj General Hospital, passport office, city corporation building and set fire to the PBI office.
Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Protesters vandalised Awami League office, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal office, Muktijoddha Complex, sub-registry office in Bogura.
The ‘peaceful’ student movement turned violent on 16 July, initially after the protesters challenged law enforcement forces during their complete shutdown programme.
Around 30 cases were filed against the arson attacks and vandalism while police arrested at least 612 people till 22 July afternoon, according to news reports.
