Nine people have been arrested in connection with the looting and demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre, a private healthcare facility in Section 1 of Mirpur, Dhaka, police said.
Two truckloads of allegedly looted goods have also been recovered from the site, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
DMP Deputy Commissioner of Media and Public Relations Akhtar Hossain disclosed the information in a statement on Sunday morning.
He said police were identifying and arresting those involved in the attack and looting while continuing operations to recover the stolen goods.
Efforts are also underway to arrest the remaining suspects and recover the rest of the looted items, the statement said.
According to Radda, the Radda MCH-FP Centre has provided free primary healthcare, maternity and family planning services to underprivileged women and children for 50 years in partnership with the government.
Facility demolished
Late Thursday night, heavy machinery was allegedly used to demolish the entire facility, including one permanent building and three semi-permanent buildings.
The attackers allegedly left after putting up a signboard for “Samomona Do22 Association Limited” at the front of the property.
Radda officials said a large quantity of vaccines and office equipment was looted during the attack.
Radda Executive Director Nasrin Akhtar filed a case with Shah Ali police station over the incident. The case names local BNP leader Hanif and 200-250 others as accused.
According to the case statement, a group of people entered the premises after scaling the boundary wall, carrying hammers, sticks and homemade weapons.
They allegedly beat and tied up night guards Andrio Sarkar and Abdul Hai before using an excavator to demolish several structures, including a family planning centre and the quarters of the clinic in-charge, doctor and deputy clinic in-charge.
The complaint also alleges that furniture and equipment were vandalized, while doors and windows of the ultrasound, vaccination and laboratory rooms were smashed.
The attackers allegedly took medicines and medical supplies, an ultrasound machine, generator, computers, a printer, refrigerator, air conditioner and steel cabinets.
After allegedly threatening the night guards, the attackers put up a cooperative society banner and signboard at the site, according to the complaint.
Earlier arrests
Four people arrested on Friday in connection with the incident were sent to jail by a court on Saturday.
They are Md Sohel, 22; Md Juwel, 23; Md Jihad Hasan, 21; and Md Rabbi, 20.
They were arrested during separate operations conducted on Friday night, police said.