A terrorist group or quarter with vested interest was involved in the violence and arson attacks on state-owned establishments in an attempt to topple the government, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Tuesday.
“A terrorist group that is against the Liberation War was behind the violence in the country on October 28, 2023, to topple the government. You all are well aware of this. This month, they again carried out attacks on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, state-owned establishments and different parts of the country,” he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting the Narsingdi Central Jail.
Narsingdi Jail supar Abul Kalam Azad, and jailer Kamrul Islam were suspended temporarily following the visit of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
A number of state establishments including Setu Bhaban, where information on the Elevated Expressway and Padma Bridge is stored, were set on fire amidst the protests over quota reform, he said.
Meanwhile, miscreants also carried out an attack on Narsingdi Central Jail, freeing 826 inmates including nine militants, said the home minister, adding, “They want to destabilize the country.”
Issuing a warning, the home minister said those who were behind the attacks and violence will be brought to book.
Asked about any negligence on the local administration’s part, the minister said they are investigating whether there was any negligence on the administration’s part. “If anyone from the administration is found involved, he/she will be brought to book.”
A three-member probe body has been formed to look into the attack on the jail by the prison authorities while a six-member probe body, headed by a senior secretary of Home Ministry, was formed in this regard on Monday, he said.
The committees were asked to submit their reports within ten working days, he added.
So far, 33 arms and some ammunition have been recovered.
A total of 85 arms and 8015 ammunitions including 7000 bullets were looted from the Narsingdi Central Jail during Friday’s attack when 826 prisoners escaped from the jail, said Jailer Quamrul Islam on July 20.
There were a total of 104 prison guards including jail superintendent, jailer and deputy jailer. Among them one was on leave while the others were on duty, he said.
A group of people took position in front of the Narsingdi Central Jail gate during the protests on July 19, said Quamrul Islam.
At one stage, they set the main gate of the jail on fire at 4 pm and broke the jail. Later, they took the prison guards hostage and broke open the locks of the cells and prison wards, making way for the prisoners to flee.
Meanwhile, a total of 126 escaped prisoners surrendered before the court of Judicial Magistrate Rakibul Haq on Tuesday.
