TIB comments on attacks, vandalism, looting and forcible occupation of institutions

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News Desk: Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said that the failure to control extortion and illegal occupation is an ominous sign for the ruling party. The organisation also called for ensuring exemplary accountability for those involved in such activities and launching a nationwide campaign for internal reform within the party.

In a statement on Sunday (September 27), TIB expressed deep concern and outrage over the looting, vandalism and forcible occupation of the Radda MCH-FP Health Centre, clashes between two local BNP factions in Kishoreganj over the occupation of a waterbody, and the vandalism of a content creator's office.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the looting, vandalism and forcible occupation of Radda MCH-FP was an embarrassing example for the government and the ruling party. He questioned what kind of example the ruling party was setting by allowing a charitable institution that had provided healthcare to poor mothers and children for nearly half a century to be destroyed in the presence of police and hundreds of people, allegedly under the patronage of a reserved-seat lawmaker.

He said widespread allegations of illegal occupation, extortion and attempts to establish dominance had emerged across the country against a section of BNP leaders and activists since August 2024. He said allegations of extortion and illegal occupation had been reported in various sectors, including bus terminals, footpaths, markets, waterbodies, sand quarries, haats and markets, cable and internet connections, and waste collection businesses.

The TIB executive director said unhealthy competition and internal sabotage among party activists over such activities were taking a violent turn in many cases. As a result, extortion and illegal occupation were becoming increasingly normalised, which he described as an ominous sign for the government.

Referring to the clash between two groups over the occupation of a waterbody in Kishoreganj and the vandalism of a creative studio as part of a series of incidents since August 2024, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said such incidents were undermining the government's positive initiatives and goodwill and sending a negative message to the public.

He further said that if the ruling party was committed to its election pledge to combat corruption, it must take effective self-correction measures immediately. Otherwise, he warned, it could lose the opportunity to control illegal occupation and extortion in the future.

In the statement, TIB also claimed that although organisational measures, including expulsion, had sometimes been taken against party activists for misconduct, law enforcement agencies were unable to take effective action due to the direct or indirect involvement of members of the ruling party with those accused of abusing power. This, the organisation said, was creating fears of the re-establishment of a culture of arbitrariness, corruption, irregularities and impunity.

TIB called for proper investigations into each incident and exemplary punishment for those found responsible.