Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said today that the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shah Ali Police Station was withdrawn following an incident of vandalism and looting at Radda Health Centre.

“There was negligence on the part of the OC. He has been withdrawn immediately, and departmental proceedings will be initiated against him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters at his ministry at the Secretariat here, the home minister said the police officer had been found negligent in carrying out his duties.

Salahuddin said the government was maintaining a strict stance on the incident and that legal action would be taken against anyone found to be involved following the investigation.

“We are still taking a strict stance. Whoever is found to be involved in the investigation will face legal action,” he said.

He said officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) had visited the scene and spoken with local residents.

Police had also recovered several items from the site, which were being preserved as evidence, he added.

“The items recovered from the place where the vandalism took place are being kept as evidence,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, nine people have so far been arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in connection with the attack and vandalism at the Radda health centre in Mirpur.

Police have also recovered two truckloads of goods allegedly looted from the health centre, according to a short message issued by the DMP.

Further investigation is underway, and legal proceedings against those arrested are expected to follow.

The health centre came under attack around midnight on Thursday when a group of more than 200 masked men, reportedly armed with locally made weapons, stormed the premises and held two security guards hostage.

The attackers allegedly looted medical equipment, medicines, vaccines, cash and other valuables before bringing in heavy machinery to demolish the facility.

The Radda MCH-FP Centre estimated the damage at more than Tk 1 crore.

A case was filed with Shah Ali Police Station.

Regarding the detention of people from the office of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad), the home minister said all but 27 of those detained had been released after questioning, while the remaining detainees were being questioned further.

He said intelligence agencies had provided reports that people affiliated with the now-banned Awami League had gathered at the office and were allegedly planning acts of sabotage.

“Based on that information, police went there and detained a number of people,” he said.

Their mobile phones will also undergo forensic examination, while investigators will look into other relevant matters, the minister added.

“If evidence is found that they were involved in acts of sabotage, cases will be filed,” he said, adding that the detainees were not arrested with the intention of harassing anyone.