Courtesy: The Financial Express
- VOL 33 NO 310 REGD NO DA 1589 Wednesday, 30 September 2026 |
The damaged building of Radda MCH-FP Centre in the capital’s Mirpur-1 after vandalism by masked assailants on Thursday night. — Collected
A private healthcare facility in the capital’s Mirpur-1 area was attacked, vandalized, and looted by a group of more than 250 masked vandals late Thursday night.
Radda MCH-FP Centre claimed the attackers subsequently demolished the entire establishment and occupied the premises. It said the attack caused damage estimated at around Tk 15 million and forced the suspension of all healthcare services.
The incident took place at around midnight at its clinic on plot-9, main road, section-1, Mirpur.
In a statement, the organization said the attackers allegedly arrived under the banner of Somomona Dokandar Samabay Samiti Ltd, held two security guards hostage, and entered the clinic before carrying out extensive vandalism and looting. They then allegedly took control of the facility and prevented the employees and members of the public from entering the premises.
Locals alleged that the attack was carried out to seize the land under the leadership of local BNP leader Hanif Mia.
Radda Executive Director Dr Nasrin Akhter said the center had been providing free primary healthcare, immunization, and family planning services in partnership with the government to poor and underprivileged mothers and children for decades.
She said the clinic currently provides government Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines and free family planning services in cooperation with the Directorate General of Health Services and the Dhaka North City Corporation.
It also provides primary healthcare to mothers and children, antenatal and postnatal care, ultrasonography, and other services either free of charge or at nominal fees.
More than 400 people receive services from the clinic every day, according to Radda.
The organisation alleged that the attackers looted government EPI vaccines, official vaccination registers and documents, family planning equipment and supplies, medicines and vaccines worth around Tk 5,00,000, and around Tk 1.14 million in cash.
Other items allegedly taken included an ultrasonogram machine worth around Tk 4.5 million, a generator, three refrigerators, three air-conditioners, CCTV cameras, three steel cupboards, five steel file cabinets, laboratory equipment and reagents, two televisions, two computers, two laptops, two printers, and other furniture.
The Radda statement said the attackers subsequently used heavy machinery to demolish one concrete and three semi-concrete buildings on the premises.
A signboard bearing the name Somomona Dokandar Samabay Samiti Ltd was also allegedly installed there.
The organization estimated that the financial loss from the destruction and looting of equipment and other property was around Tk 15 million, excluding the value of the clinic’s structures.
It also alleged that the attack was carried out with the intention of taking control of around 10 kathas of land.
The incident has disrupted healthcare services at the centre, including a government measles-rubella vaccination campaign that was scheduled to begin on Saturday (today).
The closure created serious concern among employees and local residents who depend on the facility for healthcare.
The statement said the center had served the area for around five decades and had become an important source of healthcare, particularly for women and children. In a separate statement issued on Friday, Dr Nasrin described the incident as a “planned terrorist activity” and called for those responsible to be identified and brought to justice. She said the attack was not merely an assault on an institution but also an attack on the right to healthcare of poor mothers, children, and other vulnerable people.
Radda called on the government, law enforcement agencies, human rights organizations, medical professionals, and the media to speak out against the incident.
It demanded that all those involved be identified and brought to justice, the center be fully compensated for the damage, and healthcare services be restored as quickly as possible.
The organization also called for an impartial investigation into the incident to prevent similar attacks on healthcare facilities and organizations working in the public interest.
Meanwhile, Shah Ali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Alam said police had received information about an attack and vandalism at an establishment named Radda and visited the site on Thursday night.
According to the police account provided to local media, the officer found a crowd at the location.
He said legal action would be taken if the affected party filed a complaint with the police.
Radda’s executive director subsequently filed a case with Shah Ali Police Station, naming Md Hanif Mia, 50, as the primary accused along with 200-250 unidentified people, according to the information provided by the organization.
Police said they visited the scene and observed evidence of vandalism.
No arrests were reported till Friday afternoon.
