DHAKA, July 31, 2024 (BSS) - Setu Bhaban, Department of Disaster Management,
data center, expressway toll plaza were among the major government
establishments that witnessed massive vandalism and arson attacks during the
recent quota-reform movement.
 
Anti-state and anti-development elements wrecked havoc on these key
government establishments to paralyze the country and thwart the current
development spree.
 
On July 17, the first major blow came when the rampage started by setting
fire to the toll plaza of the capital's mayor Mohammad Hanif flyover.

Subsequently, miscreants set fire to Setu Bhaban, Mirpur Fire Service Station
and data center at Mohakhali and the toll plazas of Banani and Mohakhali
elevated expressway. Police outposts, traffic boxes and many vehicles were
also burnt.

On July 18, Setu Bhaban in Mohakhali was set on fire. Bangabandhu Corner,
Reception Center, Auditorium, Day-Care Center along with more than 50 cars
were gutted in the fire. The upper floor of the building was also burnt.
Valuable materials were looted by the attackers.

Nearly 250-300 unidentified people stormed the Setu Bhaban, vandalised many
vehicles and motorbikes, and ransacked different sheds and rooms, top
officials of the Bridge Division briefed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during
her visit to the devastated Setu Bhaban on July 27.

Another important structure that is still carrying the marks of vandalism
located in Mohakhali is the Disaster Management Building. More than 50
vehicles, electrical substations, servers, emergency response coordination
centers were damaged in vandalism and arson attacks.

Three data centres are located in Mohakhali, including Khawaja Tower. One of
these centres, situated on the ground floor of the Relief Rehabilitation
Centre, was set on fire by anarchists, creating a terrifying situation.
Consequently, the employees of the other two data centres in the area were
also compelled to shut down due to the panic, causing a total disruption to
internet services across the country.
 
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and IT Zunaid Ahmed Palak shared
these details during a briefing at the Bangladesh Telecommunication
Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on July 28.

"On July 17 and 18, we suspended internet services on a limited scale in some
areas for security reasons. However, on July 18, from 3:00pm to 9:00pm,
widespread destruction ensued," he said.

"During this time, the data centre on the ground floor of the Mohakhali
Relief Rehabilitation Centre was completely burnt down. Data and technical
analysis indicate that several identified terrorists carried out these
planned attacks. Those responsible have been arrested, and law enforcement
has gathered information from them," the state minister said.

He mentioned that CCTV footage showed a terrorist group deliberately setting
fire to the data centre. Additionally, the internet and power sources,
including electricity cables of the three data centres in that area, were
also burnt. Employees working at these centres, risking their lives, were
forced to shut them down amidst the chaos.

Palak also highlighted that fibre-optic cables were torched and cut across
the country. "Hundreds of kilometers of fibre cables, those above ground,
were burnt and cut by the terrorists. Moreover, fibre optic cables brought to
Dhaka via Cox's Bazar-Chittagong, which were pulled over due to road and
bridge repairs, were also burnt. It took two days after the incident to
identify where such cable disconnections had occurred, and they were repaired
under the supervision of the army."

Regarding Kuakata's submarine cable, he said, "Only Kuakata's submarine cable
remained active. With that, we quickly restored internet services to critical
areas, including airports, diplomatic quarters, commercial zones, media,
hospitals, and banks. However, our internet connection with the rest of the
world was completely disconnected for three days."

Miscreants also vandalized various floors of the BRTA building and set it on
fire. Valuables were looted.

Mirpur Fire Service Station was also vandalized. At that time, the fire
service vehicle was gutted. The mayhem was also carried out at the Mirpur
Indoor Stadium and BRTA was attacked twice.

The first attack was carried out on the BRTA headquarters on July 19. Then
the Mirpur office of BRTA was also attacked on July 20.

At that time, the miscreants vandalized different floors of the building and
looted valuables as well as arson. Miscreants set fire to Mohakhali database
storage after the attack. Then, the internet system was shut down across the
country.