The Foreign Diplomats were Stunned by the Demonic Destruction in the name of the Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh

The Foreign Diplomats were Stunned by the Demonic Destruction in the name of the Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that foreign diplomats were shocked to see the destruction caused in the capital due to the quota reform movement. They said they would be by their side. The Foreign Minister gave this information to reporters at the Government Guest House Padma on Wednesday. Earlier, the government showed the diplomats several places in the capital, especially the metro rail, destroyed in the violence surrounding the quota reform movement. After that, the foreign minister briefed the journalists. 

Hasan Mahmud said, "Today, foreign diplomats were shown the destruction of Metrorail, Setu (Bridge Building) Bhaban, and BTV Bhaban. They are shocked to see the devastation, and he is also shocked. Such destruction was everywhere; it was beyond imagination. They said this is a shame. Many have expressed their feelings to the minister. They said, 'We are with you, but this is your internal matter.' He also said, 'BTV was established in 1964. Pakistani forces also did not attack there. But now the whole building there has been burnt down. It is public property. Everything has been burnt in the manner of Pakistani invaders. 

In response to a question regarding using UN vehicles to control the situation during the quota movement, the foreign minister said, "No UN vehicle is being used." These (vehicles) were rented to UN peacekeeping missions. We forgot the logo was not deleted. Those logos have now been removed.' The foreign minister said, 'BNP-Jamaat has protested in different places abroad. Pakistanis joined their rally in Los Angeles. Expatriates have protested in several Middle Eastern countries. Fifty-four people were arrested in the UAE during the protests. Three people have been sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he said the news that the United Arab Emirates has stopped taking laborers from Bangladesh is a rumor. 

Hasan Mahmud said, "There were representatives of 49 missions. There were 23 ambassadors. The Ambassador of Pakistan was with us today. Showed the diplomats the destruction of metro rail, road building, health department, and BTV (Bangladesh Television). We had plans to show more. We could not take them everywhere. It was difficult to send so many ambassadors at half a day's notice in these difficult times. Referring to the brief note from the diplomatic mission in Dhaka on July 18, the foreign minister said, 'We have sent a note from the ministry to everyone. No foreign embassies or diplomats should send any statement to the media. 

They accepted it. In the past, when something like this happened, diplomats were provoked. This time, the media did not. Maybe some countries have made statements like them. Asked whether the diplomats wanted to know how many people died in the country due to the quota movement, Hashan Mahmud said, "Everyone wants to know that." The Ministry of Home Affairs is working on this. Hasan Mahmud said, "Our law-enforcement agencies are working with the army here. They have established peace by working. Our law enforcement agencies are trying hard enough.

By confusing the young generation, the opposing forces of freedom have come to the fore against quotas. The freedom fighters sacrificed everything, fought for the country, and became martyrs. When they fought, they must not have thought that their children would get quota jobs. But we must not forget that today, they are protesting against quotas in a free country. If the country was not independent, these students had to agitate for the East Pakistan quota. So, the demands of the freedom fighters in this country will be a little higher.  

The Bengali nation has never seen such a thing in the 53 years of independent Bangladesh. This is like a war-torn Bangladesh. Everyone wanted a logical reform of the quota. Anti-independence forces resorted to different tactics to channel the anger of deprivation among ordinary students. Freedom fighters are taking all their jobs; this makes them angry. For 21 years after 1975, the freedom fighters in Bangladesh were neglected. Did not get any facilities. Awami League came to power and gave various facilities to the freedom fighters. A quota system was introduced for the successors of freedom fighters in government jobs. 

Freedom fighters are the brave son of the nation. Many were farmers, laborers, blacksmiths, potters, and ordinary people of the village. They had no demand. Many families have lost their lives due to the arson attack by the Pakistani forces. Many Bengalis were victims of genocide. Their contribution to strengthening the determination of freedom fighters and creating public opinion in the country and abroad is no less. These affected people are undoubtedly freedom fighters. The liberating common man guided the freedom fighters and gave information about the Pakistani soldiers and Razakars. On July 10, the Appellate Division stayed the status quo for one month on the judgment of the High Court upholding the quota in government jobs. However, the anti-quota activists rejected it and announced they would continue the movement. 

The agitators said they would remain on the streets until the executive department met this demand. From July 14 to 15, the agitation turned violent. But from July 17, it took a destructive form. Hundreds of people of various professions, including police, Ansar, students, and pedestrians, were killed. No death is desirable. Any death is painful; it has also been observed that the deceased is the sole bread-earner of the family. The main targets of the miscreants' destructive activities were the institutions and structures of the government's development activities, which have made our image bright to the world and the country's people are proud of. The Toll Plaza of Mayor Hanif Flyover and the Toll Plaza of Mohakhali Expressway have been destroyed, and it will take time to restore to old condition. Metrorail's Kazipara, Mirpur 10, and Dia Bari stations, which will take at least a year to become operational, have once again brought uncertainty to the people of these areas who were freed from the traffic jams. A committee has been formed to determine the extent of the damage. 

Attacks and arson attacks in the name of the quota reform movement turned the entire country, including the capital, Dhaka, into devastation. Infernal attacks were carried out on various government buildings in violence. Important documents were burnt in Setu Bhawan and the Health Directorate. Apart from this, internet services were disrupted due to the arson attack on the data center, and Bangladesh Television in Rampura was attacked. Three metro rail stations were turned into rubble in the attack by the miscreants. The ticket Vending Machine (TVM), monitor, and various indicator boxes were vandalized. The TVM machine has become useless. 

The attackers also stole the computer used for passenger service and maintenance. As a result of the attack, this station has become unusable for two passenger services. Financial losses are not yet known. But it will take at least a year to re-open these two stations. The miscreants burned down the entire bridge building. At least 55 vehicles were burnt in the fire. Important documents of various projects, including the elevated expressway and Padma Bridge, have been damaged. However, the total damage is not yet known. The Ministry of Bridges has formed a committee of 7 members to investigate this incident.

53 cars, 32 motorbikes, servers, and the entire building of the Disaster Management Directorate were burnt. The loss of this department is about one thousand crore taka. As a result of the fire in the office of the director general of the health department, the department's essential documents were burnt. Production sets, including motorcycles and cars, were burnt to ashes in the Bangladesh Television building in Rampura. All the archives of BTV, including 27 vehicles and 30 motorcycles, have been burnt in the entire building. A committee has been formed to determine the amount of damage, but it has not been possible to estimate it yet. Mohakhali data center, optical fiber coming from Chittagong, one of the primary sources of internet, was cut off from internet service for five days due to a fire in Mohakhali data center.

A fire gutted the Dhaka Divisional Director's car, office, and bus at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) building in Mirpur. In addition, during the ongoing agitation, extensive damage was caused by arson at Mohakhali Toll Plaza of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Mirpur Indoor Stadium, Banashri office of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), and Drug Administration Building in Dhanmondi.

Police and journalists were the targets of the attackers. The strikers joined the quota reform movement. Then, targeted attacks were carried out as part of a conspiracy to topple the government. These attacks and acts of violence require vast amounts of money. These funds come from different countries and individuals. Law enforcement agencies are working to find them.

In addition to burning 23 vehicles, including garbage trucks from Dhaka North City Corporation's Mirpur office, extensive destruction was done, the damage amount of which was more than 205 crore takas. BGMEA building was not spared. The destruction was carried out in the Department of Health and the Bureau of Health Education offices. The power system has also been extensively damaged by over 1000 crore taka. The amount of destruction carried out in other areas of Dhaka and across the country is yet to be determined, but its amount is estimated to be more than 50 thousand crore taka.

Planned 20 points of Dhaka such as Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, Dhaka Chattogram Highway, Paltan, Bijaynagar, Science Laboratory, Demra Dhaka Highway to Sylhet, crossing Jamuna Bridge to various towns of North Bengal, Dhanmondi 19, Dhanmondi 27, Jigatola, Dhanmondi 15, Miscreants have caused massive destruction along with government office infrastructure in Shankar, Rayer Bazar Road, Farmgate, Rayer Bagh, Kazipara, Mirpur 10, Mohammadpur, Basila, Gulistan, Rampura, Badda, Mohakhali, Uttara, Azampur and many other places.

Government buildings outside Dhaka were also the main targets. Some districts outside Dhaka are also targeted by miscreants, including Gazipur, Chattogram, Savar in Dhaka, Narsingdi, Mymensingh, Madaripur, Bogra, Rangpur, and Kishoreganj district. Narsingdi District Jail was broken and 826 prisoners, including nine militants, looted weapons, ammunition and money and escaped. Miscreants have wreaked havoc on various infrastructures including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Barisal, Jahangirnagar, Khulna, Shahjalal Science Technology and Jagannath University. Attacks are carried out all over Bangladesh, there is no district where there is no loss.

The government was forced to bring down the army by announcing a curfew on July 19 to bring the situation under control due to the ongoing violence. The army is assisting the civil administration. It is clear to everyone that those who don't want the development of the country, who don't like the progress of the country, are the ones who have capitalized on the anti-quota movement and destroyed the important structures of the state, the state assets, and the mother's chest is empty. They are enemies of the country. All of them should be brought under the law and given exemplary punishment, said the IGP of Police.

The army chief visited some places of destruction and said, "This demonic destruction of the country's wealth, the wealth of the people, and the wealth of the state is not possible for any patriot." The Prime Minister has also promised to take necessary measures, and she said, "The position of the government is strict in this regard, using the students as shields who have carried out this demonic destruction, but the anarchists are continuing to spread propaganda at home and abroad to destroy the image of the country." Citizens should be careful against them; they must be brought under the law. Being jealous of Bangladesh's unprecedented development and prosperity, the anti-national activities and conspiracies are not stopping at all. Various lies, fabricated, fake, untrue news, and rumors are being spread around Bangladesh on Facebook, Twitter, the Internet, and even foreign television channels at various times in various ways. There have been attacks and clashes in different parts of the capital for several days based on the quota movement. There have been many casualties. 

The government has imposed a curfew across the country to control the situation. The government deployed the army to bring the situation under control. After that, the overall situation of the country improved. The contribution and sacrifice of the army in the great war of liberation is immense. The army comes first in any emergency service of the country. People should help them to perform their duties properly. Bangladesh Army always plays a vital role in the interest of the people in any need of the state. The role of army personnel has always been at the forefront of the country's disasters, floods, tidal waves, or epidemics. The image of Bangladesh has been brightened through its dedication and work in different countries around the world. 

Remembering the reconstruction of the war-torn country and successfully tackling various challenges in the economic and other sectors, Bangabandhu returned to the independent nation in 1972. Returning to newly independent Bangladesh, he saw roads and railways cut off, seaports and seaports destroyed, and schools and colleges abandoned. The invading forces destroyed everything possible, knowing that defeat was inevitable. The transport system was almost killed in the war of liberation. As a result, the post-liberation war economy nearly stopped importing and distributing food grains, industrial raw materials, agricultural products, and daily necessities. In this situation, he gave utmost importance to reconstruction work, undertook all kinds of facilities, shipping, and other reparations, and gave importance to civil aviation.

 The power system was also severely damaged. The quick construction of transmission and distribution lines provides electricity. This hellish attack has reminded me of those days. This attack is to stop the development progress of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, the attackers do not know that after Bangabandhu's brutal assassination, Sheikh Hasina, the exiled daughter, took the helm as the Awami League president as a symbol of unity in the most challenging times. She has walked a long way in the struggle for democracy. She came back from the face of death again and again. She brought Awami League to power in 1996 after 21 years as a popular party and is working tirelessly to institutionalize democracy. 

From the independence movement of Awami League to any democratic movement in Bangladesh, she has always played a politically vocal, protesting role against all kinds of exploitation, deprivation, injustice, injustice, and oppression, along with the economic, social, political, and cultural liberation of the people and is still playing a role. She will overcome the damage of this demonic attack and take the country forward. She will take this country forward with courageous leadership in these difficult times. The Prime Minister realized the dream that Bangabandhu wanted to build a golden Bangladesh with hard work and talent, and no one could stop her. Only Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can deal with this disaster and make Bangladesh a developed, prosperous Bangladesh. 

Sent- In by: Hiren Pandit

Hiren Pandit is an essayist and research fellow based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

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