DHAKA, July 28, 2024 (BSS) - Planning Minister Major General (retd) Abdus
Salam today visited various affected infrastructures in the capital like
Dhaka Elevated Expressway toll plaza, BRTA main office, Setu Bhaban,
Department of Disaster Management Office, BTV building and Kazipara metrorail
station, damaged by the arson attack and vandalism by the miscreants
centering the recent quota-reform movement.

During his visits to the damaged sites, he enquired about the extent of
losses of the key damaged sites, buildings, vehicles from the concerned
officials and thus expressed his resentment over such extent of losses.

Speaking on the occasion, the Planning Minister said those who unleashed such
lethal and arson attacks on such public establishments lack patriotism
adding: "Having patriotism is indispensable for pursuing politics. If they
(BNP-Jamaat miscreants) can't love the country, then they have no rights to
do politics. It's not possible to do politics through causing harm to the
country and its resources."

He also mentioned that these attacks on the government establishments are
very much pre-planned by the trained miscreants.

Salam said those who are causing sufferings to the country's people and
damaged properties have no passion for the countrymen while such misdeeds of
them are testament to traitors.

Noting that such pre-planned attacks by the miscreants have reminded of the
countrymen about the aggression of the Pakistani occupation forces, he said
these recent vandalism and arson attacks on the government structures were
the acts of the defeated Pakistani forces collaborators.

While visiting the damaged Rampura BTV center, he said the damaged portion of
the state-run BTV building would be renovated again after assessing the
losses, but still there are some losses like burnt historical documents and
artifacts which could not be compensated.

He also called upon the countrymen to remain vigil about the subversive acts
of the miscreants and thus help to preserve the history and tradition of the
country.

Salam said it would not be possible to deter the pace of the country's
development through hatching conspiracies, unleashing attack, arson and
ruining the country's resources.

"The country will march ahead under the able and dynamic leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of Father of the Nation, and thus
turn into a prosperous, developed nation by 2041 as per our plan," he added.

At least 30 major establishments, including the main building of Bangladesh
Television (BTV), two metrorail stations, Khaja Tower, hub of the city's
internet data cables, Setu Bhaban along with the vehicles of police and
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were torched and severely damaged by protesters
during the quota-reform movement on July 18 and July 19.