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A vaccination and family planning centre in Dhaka’s Mirpur-1 was attacked and vandalised by a large group of masked men late Thursday night, with the facility’s equipment and valuables looted before its buildings were demolished.
More than 250 masked men, armed with locally made weapons, reportedly stormed the Radda MCH-FP Centre around midnight.
They allegedly held two security guards hostage before entering the clinic and looting medical equipment, medicines, vaccines, refrigerators, air conditioners, cash and other valuables.
The attackers later used heavy machinery to demolish the entire facility, including one permanent and three semi-permanent buildings, according to the centre.
Radda MCH-FP Centre Executive Director Dr Nasrin Akhter told reporters on Friday morning that the organisation estimated the damage from the looting and destruction at around Tk 1.5 crore.
She said the centre had been providing free primary healthcare, maternal and family planning services to poor and vulnerable people and children in the area for nearly 50 years in partnership with the government.
According to the centre, the attackers looted government EPI vaccines, vaccination registers and documents, family planning equipment, medicines, around Tk 11.4 lakh in cash, an ultrasound machine worth about Tk 45 lakh, a generator, three refrigerators, three air conditioners, CCTV cameras, laboratory equipment and reagents, computers, laptops, printers and furniture.
The attackers allegedly put up a signboard bearing the name of the Sammanana Dokandar Cooperative Society Ltd after taking control of the premises.
The centre claimed the attack was carried out with the intention of occupying its 10-katha plot of land.
The incident has caused panic among the centre’s staff and local residents. The government’s measles-rubella vaccination programme was scheduled to begin at the centre the following day.
Dr Nasrin Akhter called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible, saying the attack was not only against an institution but also against the healthcare rights of poor, children and vulnerable people.
The centre called on the government and relevant authorities to identify and prosecute all those involved and compensate it fully so that healthcare services can resume as soon as possible.
Shah Ali police station Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Alam said the Radda facility had been attacked and vandalised. Police visited the scene after receiving the news and found a crowd gathered there. He said legal action would be taken if the victims filed a complaint.