Abdur Rahman Mintu, Rangpur :
Like the rest of the country, more than half a hundred public and private establishments have been vandalized, set on fire and looted due to violence during the quota movement. Some of these institutions have been completely burnt down. The district administration has said that there has been a loss of around 15 crore taka. Businessmen said that the Rangpur metropolitan area has suffered more than 500 crore taka.
On Tuesday (July 16) at noon, there was a three-way clash between police and Chhatra League with anti-quota protestors at Park Junction in front of Bru campus. Police fired rubber bullets, tear shells and several rounds to disperse the students. A student named Abu Saeed who was on the front of the clash was killed. He is a 12th batch student of English department in Bru and one of the coordinators of the anti-quota movement.
12 cases have been registered in Rangpur violence. So far more than 2 hundred accused have been arrested. In these cases, BNP, Jamaat, Jatiya Party leaders and hundreds of others have been accused.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police ADC Crime and Media Uppal Roy confirmed the matter on Friday (July 26) afternoon. He said that those involved in violence during the movement are being arrested after watching the video.
Businessmen in Rangpur like the rest of the country are facing losses due to the destructive rampage of miscreants who entered the student quota reform movement.
Rangpur Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RMCCI), an organization of traders, has claimed that in the last 5-6 days, more than 500 crores of Taka have been lost in the metropolitan area.
The leaders of the organization fear that if the situation in the country is not normalized soon, the amount of damage will increase. RMCCI president Rezaul Islam Milan said these things in a press conference on Thursday (July 25) evening.
He said, from last July 16 to July 19, vandals have caused unimaginable destruction in Rangpur. Infiltrating the non-violent movement of students and turning it into a violent one. State assets as well as commercial assets were not spared from their unprecedented anarchy, attacks, vandalism and arson. In this situation, the government has imposed a curfew to protect the life and property of the people of the country.
Rezaul Islam Milon said that at present shops and commercial establishments cannot be kept open as usual. In the last 5-6 days, more than Tk 500 crore has been damaged in Rangpur metropolitan area alone. Small and medium businessmen have to face big challenges to cope with this shock.
According to district administration sources, Rangpur district’s public and private damage estimates of around Tk 11 crore 73 lakh have been sent to Dhaka. Out of which Rangpur is under the control of Metropolitan Police, Tajhat Police Station, Nawabganj Police Outpost and about Tk 3 crore 90 lakhs, divisional and district family planning office furniture and electrical equipment were vandalized and 6 cars were set on fire about Tk 5 crore, District Fish Office building with CCTV camera Tk 2 lakh, 6 lakh 75 thousand taka for vandalizing electrical equipment of divisional district and divisional livestock office, vandalizing office building and car with CCTV cameras, vandalizing the residence of vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, setting fire to a car and vandalizing some dormitory rooms, 1 crore 15 lakh taka for a double cabin pickup of RAB 13 60 lakhs of arson, BGB Rangpur vandalized 2 cars, 1 lakhs of damage.
Also Rangpur district Awami League party office vandalized, arson and looted 25 lakhs, Metropolitan Awami League party office vandalized, arson and looted Tk 20 lakhs, co-operative market vandalized Tk 20 lakhs, Rangpur City Corporation Ward Councilor No. 24 office vandalized and looted Tk 60 lakhs Those concerned said that it happened.
Apart from this, Muktijoddha Parliament office, Dhaka Bank booth vandalized and looted, district Chhatra League party office vandalized and looted, Metropolitan National Workers League party office vandalized, Zilla Parishad Community Center Market vandalized, city road divider vandalized, Bangabandhu Square vandalized, railway gate vandalized. It is estimated that there has been a loss of several crore Taka.
In this regard, Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Mohammad MobashwerHasan said that the damage information of some public and private structures has been sent to Dhaka through the damage assessment committee. Moreover, many institutions have suffered losses. The extent of their damage is being determined by those concerned.
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Zakir Hossain said that the situation in eight districts including Rangpur metropolis has become normal. Curfew will be lifted permanently at the earliest. He urged everyone to stay at home except during relaxation time considering the safety of the people and the state.
On the eighth day of curfew in eight districts of Rangpur division, Saturday (July 27) was relaxed from 6 am to 9 pm. Curfew will be in force till 6 am today and after 9 pm till Sunday morning.
