Miscreants chanted anti-quota slogans before looting houses, shops in West Badda, locals say

After the first few days of the recent quota reform protests, the capital's Badda area along the whole stretch of Pragati Sarani became known as a stronghold of the protesters.

Though peaceful protests by students were being staged at different points along the road, some locals from West Badda said they became victims of vandalism and looting by vagabond posing as quota protesters on Friday night.

Locals said there were no participants of quota reform protests in the area adjacent to Brac University on Friday, however, some youths started chanting anti-quota slogans just before 8pm and marched the streets, creating fear among locals in the area.

Later, from 8pm to 10:30pm, the youths vandalised and looted several apartments and small shops, the locals added.

According to eyewitness accounts narrated to The Business Standard, at 8:30pm, around 30 to 40 youths carrying truncheons and locally made weapons started destroying almost all closed-circuit cameras installed on roads, houses and shops in Merul Badda, Madhya Badda and West Badda.

Then the youths vandalised and looted four shops and nine houses located in the West and South sides of Brac University.

Eyewitnesses said the youths broke open the front gates of the houses one by one and in one house they vandalised two motorcycles and stole two others. They further destroyed three cars in two other houses.

The youths also held hostage residents of a six-storeyed building and looted gold jewellery and cash.

Locals said the youths had created such a situation that no one dared to get out of the house. "Moreover, though we immediately contacted 999 [national emergency number] and local police stations, we did not get any response from them," said a local, wishing to remain unnamed.

While visiting Asma Villa, the first house where the vandalised started, the caretaker of the house, Farid Mia, told TBS, "The youths at first divided themselves into four groups. One of the groups came to this house and broke open the front gate. Then they vandalised the motorcycles and looted two others. Earlier, they destroyed six CCTV cameras of the building.

"The youths were wearing helmets and masks. But one of them looked familiar and along with him were people from nearby areas. However, none of them looked like students."

Eight apartments of the six-storey building, Peach Haven, beside Asma Villa were looted by the youths.

Mostaq Ahmed, an official of a buying house on the second floor of the building and a victim of the looting, said, "Around 8:45pm, some 10 to 15 youths entered the building shouting, 'People from this building provided information and videos about us to the police. Check them and take care of them."

He said, "They forcefully entered each apartment on all floors and looted mobiles, cash, laptops, jewellery."

He added, "As my mobile phone was taken away, I could not inform the others in the building."

West Badda Building Owners' Association President Ahsanul Haque told TBS that he received information about the incidents later in the night. "The damages from the vandalism and looting amount to several lakhs. We are working on finding out who are behind the attacks."

Regarding the issue, Badda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Yasin Gazi told TBS that he has not heard of any such incident. "No one has filed a complaint yet. If a complaint is lodged, we will take necessary actions," he said.