The CSO Alliance, a national coalition of more than 300 civil society and non-governmental organisations, has strongly condemned the attack, looting and demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1 and demanded a swift, impartial and effective investigation.
In a statement, the alliance said a group of around 200 to 250 people allegedly held the health centre’s security guards hostage before looting vaccines, medicines, medical equipment and cash during the attack on the night of 24 September.
The group also used heavy machinery to demolish parts of the facility, according to the statement.
The CSO Alliance said it stood by Radda employees and families dependent on the centre’s services and called for those responsible to be held accountable and for compensation to be provided for the damage.
Radda, a Mirpur-based NGO health centre, began its operations in 1974 at the initiative of Radda Barnen, formerly Save the Children Sweden.
For nearly five decades, it has provided vaccination, maternal healthcare and family planning services, particularly to low-income mothers and children, in partnership with the government.
The attack occurred shortly before the second phase of the national measles-rubella vaccination campaign was scheduled to begin at the Mirpur-1 centre. Radda has continued vaccinating children from temporary tents, but most of its other services have remained suspended, the alliance said.
The coalition said the incident was another indication of concerns over mob violence and law and order in the country.
“Any dispute over land ownership must be resolved through legal procedures, not through force,” it said.
The CSO Alliance also stressed the importance of government, private-sector and NGO partnerships in delivering essential services, particularly healthcare.
Citing its research on the role of civil society organisations, the alliance said such partnerships had contributed to expanding childhood immunisation coverage in Bangladesh.
According to the 2023 EPI Coverage Evaluation Survey, 81.6 per cent of children in the country were fully vaccinated.
The alliance welcomed the arrest of nine people in connection with the incident, recovery of looted goods and the announcement of an investigation into the role of police.
It also welcomed the health minister’s assurance that the ownership dispute would be settled through the courts and that vaccination services would continue.
The coalition called on the government to identify and prosecute the planners, financiers and participants in the attack regardless of their political affiliation.
It also demanded that the findings of the police investigation and actions taken against those held responsible be made public.
The alliance further called for security and compensation for Radda, assistance in moving its vaccination and other services to a secure temporary facility, and replacement of looted vaccines and supplies.
It urged the authorities to ensure that no child in the area is excluded from the measles-rubella vaccination campaign, which is scheduled to continue until 31 October.
The CSO Alliance also demanded stronger protection for health centres, NGOs and businesses against extortion, vandalism and illegal occupation, and called for attacks on healthcare facilities to be treated as emergency incidents.
