The attack on the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur must be called out for what it was: A despicable act that sinks to the absolute lowest depths of moral bankruptcy.
Under the cover of darkness, a mob of over 200 masked men armed with hammers, sticks, and heavy excavators bound and gagged security guards before attempting to raze the healthcare facility to the ground.
That they looted essential medical equipment, ultrasound machinery, and cash from a centre that provided services primarily to disadvantaged and low-income people shows that, beyond being an illegal land grab, this was a barbaric, gutless act of aggression and brings profound national shame upon us all.
For five decades, the centre has served as a sanctuary for low-income families, providing essential care to over 400 underprivileged mothers, infants, and elderly patients every single day. To reduce such a vital community lifeline to a pile of rubble over a 10-katha real estate dispute is a heinous crime.
That perpetrators felt empowered to deploy heavy machinery in the heart of the capital at midnight reveals the magnitude of the impunity enjoyed by such criminals, making a mockery of law and order.
It goes without saying that this outrage demands an unyielding, zero-tolerance response. Excuses, bureaucratic delays, and political finger-pointing are completely unacceptable.
Every individual involved -- from the masked goons who wielded the hammers to those orchestrating the land grab under the guise of local associations -- must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Failure to swiftly apprehend and try those responsible would signal a complete collapse of governance and a further invitation to mob rule. We expect the authorities concerned to demonstrate, through actions, that those who resort to such brutality will face uncompromising justice. Anything less is a betrayal.
