Anarchy, violence leave marks of destruction in Dhaka, Narayanganj cities

The entire country has suffered unprecedented devastation centered around the quota reform movement. In the name of the movement, the wounds of the brutality of the miscreants have started to emerge in the North, South, and Narayanganj City Corporations.

Although preliminary data of damages have been provided for these three city corporations, it will take some more time to get the complete scenario.

The violence caused an estimated Tk205 crore damages to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), according to Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam. He disclosed this during his visit to the regional office of DNCC in Mirpur, which was damaged during the violence.

Mayor Atiq said that five regional offices of DNCC were vandalized during the movement. A total of 67 vehicles were damaged, including 50 set on fire. Among the destroyed vehicles, 29 waste-carrying trucks were completely burnt, and 21 Pajero jeeps used by officers were torched. Additionally, 17 other vehicles were damaged. One-fourth of the total waste transportation vehicles were destroyed, disrupting the waste management of the capital.

The miscreants set fire to the foot-over bridge at Mirpur-10, completely destroyed the Uttara Community Center, and the Suchona Community Center in Mohammadpur. Highlighting the destruction at the Rampura pump house, Atiqul Islam said that when workers went there for repairs, they were attacked. The newly brought advanced ladders for street light repairs were also destroyed by the miscreants.

Mayor Atiqul Islam said a committee had been formed to estimate the total damage to the DNCC. The ministry is working to determine the extent of the damage. However, according to their preliminary estimates, the DNCC has incurred damages worth at least Tk 205 crore.

Public Relations Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Abu Naser said that the violence caused approximately Tk 6 crore in damages to DSCC.
According to preliminary estimates, the violence resulted in financial losses of about Tk 6 crore. Three dump trucks were set on fire, and three officers' cars were vandalized. Road dividers were destroyed in areas like Jatrabari, Dhanmondi 27, Elephant Road, and in front of Dhaka College. The manhole covers in various areas, valued at around Tk 1.5 crore, were removed. A passenger shed in Azimpur was demolished, and significant damage was inflicted in Kazla, Jatrabari. Various project materials were stolen.
Abu Naser added that it is currently impossible to provide an accurate assessment of the damage. Detailed information, including the damage assessment, will be provided later.

Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) incurred an estimated Tk 50 crore in damages due to miscreants' attacks and arson at the NCC building and its various establishments during the quota movement, according to Mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy on Thursday.

He told the journalists that the miscreants conducted a planned attack after surveying the building and recording videos. However, the corporation's server was not damaged, so there will be no issues with birth-death registration, WASA bills, and other services, which will resume once the internet is restored.

He added that on July 18 and 19, miscreants attacked the NCC building and various establishments of the city corporation, exploiting the quota reform movement. On July 18, at 4:00pm, they vandalized the sculpture of Bangabandhu at Mini Park near the No. 2 rail gate in the city and uprooted trees. The commercial building Doel City Plaza-1, adjacent to Nagar Milnayatan, was vandalized. In the Gymkhana area, Doel City Plaza-3 was vandalized and set on fire. During these two days, the miscreants uprooted trees and flower pots along different parts of Nawab Salimullah Road from Chashara to Nitaiganj and demolished walls at various places on the road divider.

On Friday ( July 19), around 9:45pm, miscreants attacked and set fire to the city building. They torched four cars and ten motorcycles belonging to the city corporation, as well as computers and furniture. They also vandalized and looted a large quantity of medicines intended for free distribution, the city corporation's sales center, and a heritage building nearly 150 years old. The One Bank and City Bank branches located in the city building compound were also vandalized. Additionally, miscreants carried out extensive vandalism and looting at the Ali Ahmad Chunka City Library and Auditorium in two phases.

Mayor Ivy said that the attack was premeditated. Our security guard informed us that the day before the fire, a video of the building was recorded by the attackers, which was not suspected at the time. It is now clear that the video was part of the reconnaissance before the attack. Miscreants also carried out sabotage at several service-oriented institutions in Narayanganj, including the passport office and the city corporation.

The quota reform movement also led to extensive vandalism, looting, arson, and attacks on government institutions in Gazipur, resulting in significant damage. Gazipur's Deputy Commissioner Abul Fateh Mohammad Shafiqul Islam reported on Thursday that six establishments and facilities in Gazipur suffered damages worth Tk 51.49 crore due to the several days of sabotage, and the damage could increase further.

Meanwhile, the scars of the violence are scattered across the capital from one end to the other. The most extensive destruction was inflicted on establishments considered symbols of the government's development. Nothing was spared from the miscreants' arson attacks, from vehicles on the roads to critical government buildings. The burning of the government's data center led to a five-day nationwide internet outage, while the vicious destruction at two stations indefinitely halted the dream project of the metro rail service. Hundreds of vehicles were set ablaze, creating a state of chaos and anarchy, which paralyzed and terrified the citizens.

Intelligence sources indicate that when the quota reform movement spread, hundreds of thousands of trained cadres from the BNP and Jamaat-Shibir entered the capital from all over the country. They positioned themselves at key entry points to the capital, such as Shanir Akhra to Signboard, Kazla to Demra, and Tongi to the airport and Gabtoli-Aminbazar. Many mingled with the protesting students in Rampura, Banasree, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi, and Kuril. A lot of information has started to emerge about the background of the violence, but the investigating agencies are not yet willing to disclose all the details.