Another diagnostic centre in Khulna came under attack on Saturday, as a group of five to six men armed with hammers and Chinese axes stormed the facility and vandalised its premises.
The attack took place at New Apollo Diagnostic and Consultation on Khan Jahan Ali Road in the city around 12:50pm. No casualties were reported.
According to police and local sources, the attackers entered the diagnostic centre carrying hammers and Chinese axes and began smashing equipment and fixtures before anyone could react. They damaged two air conditioners, a television, the glass of the main entrance and the reception counter.
Before carrying out the vandalism, they also snatched a mobile phone worth around Tk30,000 from an employee.
Police visited the scene after being informed of the incident.
Jahid Hossain, manager of the diagnostic centre, said a man claiming to be associated with the Nur Azim gang of Tutpara had called him around a month ago.
“He mentioned Nur Azim, but I told him I did not know the person. The caller then hung up. About a month later, our diagnostic centre came under attack,” he said.
A patient who was at the centre during the incident said all five to six attackers were carrying hammers and Chinese axes.
Khulna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lokman Hossain Ripon said police had visited the scene and collected CCTV footage.
“The attackers have been identified by examining the footage. Drives are underway to arrest them,” he said.
The latest incident follows a series of attacks on diagnostic centres in Khulna.
On the night of October 24, Sandhani Diagnostic Centre on Babukhan Road was vandalised and shots were fired, triggering panic among people.
The following day, a group of miscreants went to the second branch of Sandhani Diagnostic Centre in Sonadanga and threatened on-duty doctors at gunpoint.
Abdullah Diagnostic Centre on Shamsur Rahman Road was also attacked on Wednesday.