Metro rail stations, toll plazas of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, BRTC depots, BRTA headquarters and its Mirpur office have been wrecked massively by vandalism and arson attacks during the violence over the students’ quota movement across the country.
The losses suffered by the Roads and Highway Division (RHD) due to vandalism and arson attacks could be more than Tk 1,000 crore, according to sources at the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Bangladesh Road Transport Corpsoration (BRTC) and Dhaka Metro Rail have formed separate committees to investigate the damage caused by the miscreants. Besides, another committee has been formed by the RHD to look into the overall damage.
A meeting was held on Sunday at Farmgate Metro Rail Station led by RHD secretary Amin Ullah Nuri to estimate the losses. Chiefs of all the RHD offices were present at the meeting.
“We held a meeting to estimate the losses suffered by the RHD. Several committees have been formed to calculate the losses,” Amin Ullah Nuri told the Bangladesh Post.
Asked about the extent of losses, he said, “We can’t say in this regard right now. The losses involve many things, including the project cost. If we say an amount of loss right now, it can be low or high. You have an idea about the extent of damage.
Apart from the visible damage to the expressway, the Metro Rail and BRTA, many roads have been damaged in different places. We will estimate the total loss.”
Metro rail faces Tk 500cr loss, attackers to be identified thru CC camera footage
An eight-member committee led by Additional Secretary Mohammad Zakaria has been formed to calculate the losses of two Metro Rail stations -- Mirpur 10 and Kazipara stations.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Company Secretary Tarafdar Mahmudur Rahman said this while talking to The Bangladesh Post.
Sources said that the Metro Rail attackers will be identified through CC camera footage. The authorities concerned will take stern action against the attackers.
A member of the probe committee said it will take six months to one year to rebuild the two metro stations. The whole electronic system (e-system) of Mirpur 10 station has been damaged. Resuming the operation of the e-system will cost Tk 250 crore, he added.
Besides, more than 50 per cent of the e-system of Kazipara Metro Station has been damaged. It will cost Tk 100 crore to reinstall the e-system. Also, it will cost around Tk 200 crore to repair the damaged computers, punching machines, vending machines and other equipment. The Metro Rail suffered a total loss of Tk 500 crore.
The probe committee member also said the equipment and e-system of the Metro Rail were brought from Europe and Japan. Now, a new tender will be floated according to the demand of the inspection team and then they will be imported from abroad. After installation, test drive will be done before their full operation.
DMTCL Company Secretary Abdur Rouf told the Bangladesh Post “Besides vandalism and torching of metro stations, we will face huge financial losses as Mirpur 10 station, one of the crowded station, will remain suspended. It is a huge loss for us.”
Four BRTA services halted for indefinite period
Miscreants caused extensive damage to to BRTA headquarters and its Mirpur office during the violence. The data center at Mirpur BRTA office and automatic driving machine setup were destroyed completely. Four BRTA services – driving licence, route permit, fitness certificate and registration of vehicles have been suspended for an indefinite period.
BRTA Chairman Goutam Kumar Paul said two separate probe committees have been formed in this regard. Both committees have been asked to submit the report within seven days.
A seven-member committee led by Director (operations) Azizul Islam has been formed to calculate the losses of the BRTA. While another five-member committee led by Deputy Director Rafiqul Islam has been formed to determine the losses of BRTA Mirpur regional office.
An official of BRTA headquarters said, “The driving licence giving project, worth Tk 150 crore, was running at BRTA Mirpur regional office. More than Tk 100 crore equipment and e-system of the project have been damaged.”
On the other hand, BRTA headquarters in Banani suffered more than Tk 50 crore loss. Miscreants vandalized and torched the first and second floor of the BRTA building.
BRTC sufferers Tk 50 crore losses
BRTC Jatrabari bus depot turned into a wreckage ground due to vandalism and arson attacks. A total 44 BRTC buses were damaged or burned. Of them, four buses were completely burned down, three buses were torched partially and 37 buses were vandalised at different depots.
BRTC started an internal enquiry in this regard, said Hitlar Bal, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the BRTC. 50 police boxes of DMP vandalized and torched
At least 50 police boxes of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) were vandalised and torched by the miscreants during the quota movement.
A police official said, “Around Tk 15-20 crore losses occurred due to the vandalism and torching of the police boxes. We can’t say the total amount of total losses right now.”
55 vehicles of Bridge Division burnt
Miscreants set fire to 55 vehicles worth Tk 70 crore of Bridge Division during violence on Friday and Saturday. The first floor to third floor of Bridge Division’s building was completely burnt. Although the fourth and fifth floor were burned down, the officials managed to save documents kept on these floors. A seven-member committee has been formed to estimate the losses suffered by the Bridge Division. A member of the committee said overall Bridge Division loss would be Tk 200 crore.
