Recent attacks linked to quota reform protests on six establishments and institutions in Gazipur have resulted in damage estimated around Tk50.58 crore, said Gazipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abul Fate Mohammad Shafiqul Islam.
He also said the figure may increase. During the movement, miscreants attacked both government and private establishments from Tongi to Chandana Chowrasta, focusing their sabotage on government offices.
The attackers torched three vehicles of the Roads and Highways Department at Chandana Chowrasta. Four trucks, hydraulic hammers and other goods were vandalized along with the office gate and building of the BRT project, resulting in damages worth Tk19 lakh.
At least 19 Gazipur City Corporation vehicles were torched during the sabotage. Another 13 vehicles were vandalized. Of them, three were jeeps, five pickups, 18 drum trucks, one compactor, one mobile court vehicle, two Power Division vehicles, one wheel loader, and one tempo, he added.
They also vandalised the doors and windows of the building of Zone-1 of Gazipur City and set fire to three rooms on the ground floor. The doors and windows of the regional office Zone-3 building were also vandalised.
Escalators at BRT project stations from Gazipur to the airport were partially burned.
The DC added that significant vandalism and arson occurred at the GCC's office in Tongi’s College Gate area, where extensive damage was done to two rooms, with burned furniture and valuable documents found inside. Some 25 vehicles lined up in front of the room were vandalized and set on fire.
The attack on the BRT project destroyed 25 escalators, 2,000sqm of SS railings, one excavator, 3,000kg of MSE wall panel formwork, six electric hammers, four welding machines, two road-cutting machines, 360m of fencing and plastic traffic barriers, seven generators at stations, water lines, utility connections, and one project site office, totalling nearly Tk30 crore in damages.
He further said seven motorcycles were set on fire, the office building of the Desco sub-station, 10 computers, seven printers, AC compressors and various furniture and materials were vandalized in the attack on the Desco office in Tongi.
The attackers torched four vehicles inside Beximco Pharma in Tongi. Six CCTV cameras, six covered vans and two microbuses were vandalized and the building was damaged, totalling Tk3 crore in damages, he added.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police's five police boxes in Gazipura, Board Bazar, Gachha, Konabari and Chandana Chowrasta were set on fire and vandalized. It caused a loss of Tk35 lakh. Besides, brickbats were thrown at Tongi West and Gachha police stations causing further damage, he added.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Mahbub Alam said that the miscreants attacked the police station and police box in a planned way. They are being identified through CCTV footage to be brought under legal action.
Roads and Highways Executive Engineer Md Shariful Alam: "We have suffered an estimated loss of Tk3 crore due to the rampage. Along with the vehicles, the glass of the window of the building was also vandalized by throwing brickbats.”
Gazipur City Corporation has suffered a lot as many vehicles have been burnt, said Chief Executive Officer of ASM Safiul Azam of the city corporation.
