The banner returns, Radda Health Centre rises again from rubble

Reconstruction work has begun on the health centre in Mirpur, Dhaka, that was demolished in an attempted land grab. The occupiers' banner has been removed and the banner of the Radda MCH-FP Centre has been hoisted there.

Even after a group of people demolished it last Thursday, this private health centre run with foreign assistance did not stop its health services. Children's vaccinations were continuing amid the rubble.

This morning (Monday), the centre's own banner was hoisted again at its gate. Work to remove the rubble was also underway. Even during repairs, health workers were continuing operations temporarily.

The organization's Executive Director, Nasrin Akter, told Agamir Somoy, "Our health centre is now free from occupation. The gate has been opened. We have re-hoisted our banner. Work is ongoing to clear the debris and rebuild. At the same time, we have cleaned a room and are running the vaccination program."

On Thursday midnight, the office of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Section 1 of Mirpur in the capital came under attack. The attackers intruded through the back of the health centre and demolished the entire structure, including one permanent and three semi-permanent buildings.

After the vandalism, the attackers hung a signboard and banner reading "Samamona Dokandar Samabay Samity Limited" (Like-minded Traders Cooperative Society Limited) there, closing the gate of the health centre.

The Radda MCH-FP Centre was established in 1974 to provide health services in Bangladesh with the support of the Swedish organization Radda Barnen (Swedish Save the Children). They have several health centres in Mirpur, Dhaka.

Among them, the Mirpur Section 1 health centre was established in 1976 on 10 kathas of land in Block D. The land, belonging to the Directorate of Housing and Public Works, was allocated to them in 1984 for conducting government vaccination and health service activities.

However, local influential people had long been mouth-watering to occupy this land. In continuation of that, this attack took place.

Vaccination Amid the Rubble

After the building was demolished, the vaccination program continued on Friday and Saturday. Tables, chairs, and a tarpaulin were set up in front of the gate to vaccinate children. This caused suffering not only for doctors, nurses, and health workers but also for the children coming for vaccination and their guardians.

Paramedic Mosammat Farzana, who was on duty at the vaccination program last Saturday, told Aamader Shomoy, "Whatever the situation, we will continue providing services.

"Since a month-long vaccination program was supposed to be running here, we are continuing the vaccination program outside the rubble today, staying true to our commitment."

A health worker on duty at Monday's vaccination program said, "Compared to the last two days, today there is some relief for our children and mothers. We can enter our health centre. At least there is a roof overhead. We will have to face more challenges to ensure the arrangements needed to provide health services."


Questions Arise Over the Society's Banner

After the attack on the health centre, questions have been raised about who hung the banner of "Samamona Dokandar Samabay Samity Limited" (Like-minded Traders Cooperative Society Limited) there. Locals say that several local BNP leaders are involved with the activities of this society. The name of BNP reserved women's seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed (Mithi) also came up in discussion. However, Ferdousi Ahmed has claimed that she is not involved in this attack.

The address of the society written on the banner was: Baishakhi Super Market, adjacent to Mirpur Section 1 bus stand.

Following this lead, on Saturday afternoon, going to the fourth floor of that market, the society's name was seen written on two adjacent shops. One shop was closed. A person at the other shop said he did not recognize any organization by that name.

Neighboring shopkeepers also said that the room with the society's name written on it remains closed most of the time. Occasionally, a few people come and hold meetings there.

The society's name was hanging above the shop of a shopkeeper named Md. Babul. Babul said he had recently rented the shop. Therefore, the previous banner had not been taken down.

Babul does not know whether the shop was previously used as an office. He said the person from whom he rented the shop would be able to say something about this.

The person from whom Babul rented the shop in Baishakhi Market is named Md. Saker. He was spoken to over mobile phone. He said he has no information about those who previously used the shop.

After the attack on the Radda health centre, various parties and organizations became vocal in protest. Yesterday, leaders and activists of the National Citizen Party (NCP) tore down the signboard hung by the society.

Description of the Attack in the FIR

After the attack, Nasrin Akhtar, Executive Director of the Radda MCH-FP Centre, filed a case at Shah Ali Police Station.

The FIR states that around 12 midnight, 200 to 250 masked individuals carrying machetes, hammers, and sticks climbed over the wall and entered the health centre. They beat two security guards and tied them to posts.

The FIR further alleges that the attackers broke down the main gate and used heavy building-demolition machinery to vandalize all the rooms of the health centre. At the same time, they looted the health centre's equipment, medicines, vaccines, cash, and other belongings.

Investigation into Police Role

There have been allegations that even though police received news of the attack, they took no action, and even after arriving, they did not stop the attackers.

While inspecting the scene on Saturday afternoon, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, in response to journalists' questions on the matter, said that if there was negligence in duty, action would be taken against those concerned.

After that, the OC of Shah Ali Police Station was removed. In the meantime, 10 people have been arrested and sent to jail.

At a briefing at the Secretariat on Monday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that preliminary evidence of police inaction and negligence in duty has been found in the incident of attack, looting, and vandalism. The OC has been withdrawn immediately and departmental proceedings are being taken against him. Strict action is being taken against the criminals regardless of party or affiliation.

He said, "A criminal has no political identity. A criminal is just a criminal."