BNP reserved women’s seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed Mishti has resigned following the instructions of Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman over the attack, looting and vandalism at the Radda MCH-FP Center in Mirpur in the capital. She submitted her resignation to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed at the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday (October 1) afternoon.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh confirmed the order to resign. Party and government sources said the decision was taken after reviewing the allegations and intelligence reports against Mishti in the Radda Center attack.
On September 24, between 12:00 am and 2:00 am, an attack, looting and vandalism took place at the Radda MCH-FP Center in Mirpur-1. Later, the health center’s facilities, including one pucca and three semi-pucca buildings, were demolished with heavy machinery. Allegations of involvement of BNP leaders and activists at various levels in the incident arose and the name of Mishti came into discussion.
Earlier on Wednesday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed had said that the matter of MP Mithi in the vandalism at Radda Health Center is under investigation. He also said that no one will be spared if evidence of involvement is found.
In the case filed in this incident, 200 to 250 unidentified people have been named as accused, mentioning the name of Mirpur BNP leader Md. Hanif Mia. The case has been charged with trespassing, theft, threats and causing damage worth more than 15 million taka.
According to the complaint, more than 200 masked men armed with country-made weapons entered the Radda Center and took two security personnel hostage. They then vandalized and looted the establishment and brought heavy machinery to demolish it. Later, a signboard and banner of ‘Sammana Shopkeepers’ Cooperative Society Limited’ were hung at the site of the destroyed establishment.
Information about Mishti’s old involvement with the association over the Radda Center land has also come to light. In 2006, when he was the commissioner of Ward 8 of Shah Ali Police Station, he was the president of the association and signed the application for the allotment of the land as its president. However, Mishti claims that he has no further connection with the association after that.
Mishti has also denied allegations of his involvement in the attack and vandalism at Radda Center. He had earlier told The Business Standard that no BNP leader was involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, the names of several local BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders have been mentioned in various investigations and reports regarding the attack. However, investigations into these allegations are ongoing and no official investigation results have been released as direct participation in the attack against Mitshi has yet to be proven.
Mishti was previously the joint convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP. The report mentions that that committee was also dissolved last night after the Radda incident.