DNCC administrator says govt does not want midnight demolition incidents

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Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan has said the government does not want incidents like the vandalism, looting and demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1.

Speaking to journalists after inaugurating the Nationwide Special Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign-2026 at the TNT playground in Korail on Saturday, he said police had been instructed to identify and arrest those involved. Legal action would be taken against them, he added.

The centre was vandalised and looted around midnight on Thursday. More than 200 masked people allegedly entered with locally made weapons, held two security guards hostage and looted equipment, medicines, vaccines, cash and other valuables before heavy machinery was used to demolish the facility.

The incident was allegedly carried out under the banner of Sammona Shopkeepers Cooperative Society Limited. Nasrin Akhter, executive director of the centre, said the damage exceeded Tk 10 million and filed a case with Shah Ali police station.

There have also been allegations that two local BNP factions had been trying to take control of the land. One faction allegedly occupied the site on Thursday night under the name of the Sammona Shopkeepers Cooperative Society Limited.

Shafiqul Islam Khan said he visited the site after learning about the incident and spoke with the deputy commissioner of police. Police told him that an investigation was underway and that camera footage was being examined to identify those involved.

He said any dispute over the land between an organisation and the health centre must be settled through legal procedures and the courts.

The administrator said the vaccination campaign had already started at the site and would continue, with the city corporation providing necessary assistance.

Asked why the administration had failed to prevent the demolition, he said the site mainly had makeshift market and semi-concrete structures rather than a complete building. He reiterated that the authorities did not support the incident and that legal action would be taken against those responsible.