Attack on Radda MCH-FP centre condemnable

We are shocked by the violent attack, looting and destruction of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Dhaka’s Mirpur-1 area, which has been providing healthcare, maternity, family planning and vaccination services to local residents for nearly 50 years. According to reports, more than 200 people, some masked and armed with locally made weapons, allegedly entered the healthcare facility on Thursday night and held the security guards hostage, looted medical equipment, medicines and cash, and then used heavy machinery to demolish one permanent and three semi-permanent structures. The reported failure of the police to intervene and stop the destruction is particularly concerning.

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Govt must take mob violence by the horns

The CCTV footage of the attack shows police members remaining inactive while the looted goods were being loaded onto a pick-up truck. The Shah Ali Police Station OC has also reportedly acknowledged that police were present at the scene during the attack. The question is, if police cannot prevent a large group of people from openly looting and demolishing a healthcare facility in the capital, how will they protect citizens from other forms of organised violence elsewhere in the country? The routine formation of a committee to investigate whether there was negligence or failure on the police’s part does little to restore public confidence.

The Radda authorities suspect that the attack was an attempt to take control of the property. In a case filed by the centre, former Dhaka North BNP member Hanif Mia and 200-250 unidentified suspects have been named as accused. These allegations must be properly investigated, and if anyone is found to have used political connections to facilitate the attack or attempted to encroach on the property, they must be held accountable regardless of their political affiliation. And any dispute over land ownership must be resolved through lawful means.

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When did violence become so normal in Bangladesh?

The incident happened at a time when the country's overall law and order situation remains worrying. Cases of murder, violence against women and children, and attacks on police have all increased in recent months. The police members’ weakened morale and hesitation to act even when lawful intervention is necessary are particularly concerning. The Radda incident further underscores these concerns. If law enforcers lack the confidence, institutional support or willingness to act against organised violence, criminals and politically connected groups may become increasingly emboldened. Hence, restoring police confidence must go hand-in-hand with ensuring accountability for failure to perform their duties.

In this particular case, we urge the government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into both the attack and the alleged police failure, and ensure that anyone found responsible faces the law. The government must also ensure that the Radda centre's essential healthcare and vaccination services are fully restored as quickly as possible, and that its property is protected from further encroachment. The authorities must also send an unequivocal message that political affiliation will not provide protection from the law.