Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the BNP-Jamaat and Shibir carried out the nationwide mayhem to undermine the country's development alongside tarnishing its image abroad, calling upon the countrymen to help arrest the culprits involved in the havoc and bring them to justice.
"They, who are involved in such incidents, must have to be identified by searching every nook and cranny of the country, where they are staying. I am seeking support from the countrymen to identify them and expose them to justice," she said after paying a visit to the BTV Bhaban at Rampura in the city to inspect the rampage carried out there on Thursday.
The prime minister said the BNP-Jamaat carried out nationwide arson terrorism and vandalism in 2013 in which they set fire to 3,800 vehicles, 29 trains and eight launches and this time they launched a massive destruction across the country from July 17, 2024 morning by cashing in on the quota reform movement.
"But, the characteristic of setting ablaze this time is different compared to the prior ones. They, this time used gunpowder in setting fire and everything was gutted to ashes." she said.
According to the available statistics provided by the BTV, the rampage left havoc in the BTV's various infrastructures, broadcasting equipment, design section, office building and rooms.
In the vandalism, a Television museum, decorated with invaluable antiques preserved since 1964 was badly damaged and so with the Mujib Corner, memorials of the Liberation War, reception and waiting room furniture, computers, air-conditioners (AC) and other items.
About 40 computers, 100 television sets and furniture in the computer lab, training room and preview room were also damaged.
Lifts, network equipment, CC cameras and monitoring sets were also badly rampaged.
Vehicular buildings and sheds, canteen and security monitoring rooms; 17 vehicles including a broadcast OB van, 21 motorcycles were set on fire while nine vehicles were vandalized.
Apart from these, the auditorium, lounge, design, make-up, workshop, graphics room, store /wardrobe rooms, and 20 graphic computers were also rampaged.
Design sheds, studio roofs, walls, buildings and civil infrastructures; central air-conditioning system and about 70 split air-conditioners (AC); official furniture, five photocopy machines, and about 50 official computers were also havocked.
One hundred monitoring sets, including 10 computer workstations, electric cables, switches, tactile appliances, recording cameras, lighting sources and related equipments; important official files, documents, artist honorarium-related ledgers, bank books, vouchers, audit bills and etc also vandalized during the rampage.
