The vandalism at content creator Salman Muqtadir’s BrownFish Studio in Dhaka’s ECB Chattar and the subsequent destruction of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur raise a much larger question than the circumstances of either individual incident: Are law-enforcement agencies responding quickly and effectively enough when organised groups resort to violence, vandalism and illegal occupation?
In the ECB Chattar incident, Salman alleged that his studio was attacked amid an extortion dispute. Police, however, have said there was no extortion incident and that the attack stemmed from a property dispute. Three people were initially detained, and police subsequently made further arrests as the investigation progressed.
Whatever the ultimate motive, there can be no justification for a group entering a property and damaging studios, residential units, equipment and other structures. The reported destruction of cameras, furniture and production equipment is not merely a private dispute; it is a matter of public order and criminal accountability.
More troubling are questions about whether such incidents could have been prevented or stopped earlier. When a large group allegedly enters a property, carries weapons and causes extensive damage, the public has every right to ask where the law-enforcement agencies were and how long it took them to respond. Arrests after an incident are necessary, but effective policing also requires timely intervention when violence is unfolding.
The Radda health centre incident presents an even more serious concern. More than 200 masked people allegedly entered the facility, held security guards hostage, looted equipment and medicines, and demolished the health centre using heavy machinery. Police have since arrested several people and recovered allegedly looted goods.
There are also allegations of involvement by individuals linked to the ruling BNP, including a reserved-seat lawmaker. Those allegations must be investigated independently and fairly. They should neither be accepted as established facts without evidence nor dismissed merely because the accused have political connections. The appropriate response is a transparent investigation followed by action based on evidence.
This is where the Home Ministry and the police leadership have a critical responsibility. The government cannot strengthen public confidence in law and order merely by announcing arrests after violence has occurred. It must examine whether there were failures of intelligence, response, coordination or command, and take corrective action where necessary.
At the same time, political affiliation must never become a shield against prosecution. If any member or supporter of the ruling party is found to have participated in extortion, vandalism, illegal occupation, looting or violence, the law must apply to that person exactly as it would to anyone else. Conversely, allegations against political actors must be established through due process rather than political accusation.
The government has repeatedly pledged to establish effective law and order. That commitment will ultimately be judged not by statements, but by whether citizens, businesses, health facilities and creative establishments can operate without fear of organised violence.
The lesson from both incidents is clear: law enforcement must act before disorder becomes destruction, and accountability must follow regardless of political identity. There should be no room for impunity—whether the motive is extortion, a land dispute or any other conflict.
