TDS Desk:

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said it is not possible to reopen the capital’s Kazipara and Mirpur-10 stations – vandalised during the quota reform movement – even in the next year.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the damaged Setu Bhaban in the city’s Banani area on Saturday, Quader said, “Metrorail’s Kazipara and Mirpur-10 stations have been destroyed. Experts say it will not be possible to bring equipment, and make it operational even in a year.

When asked when the metro rail services could restart, Quader said, “We will do whatever we can in multiple phases based on the decision taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We do not want to move forward without her decision.

“She is monitoring everything closely, and inspecting in person various destroyed facilities, including the BTV Bhaban. She has taken account of all the losses. I cannot say at the moment which facilities will relaunch, when, and in what condition.”

Pointing out that BNP-Jamaat has hijacked this movement to cover for their years of failure, Quader added, “This is not the work of ordinary students, as their movement was limited to quota reform.

“BNP-Jamaat relied on this movement politically. They failed in 2018, they failed in October before the elections, and they did not participate because they were afraid of losing in the polls. They hunger for power has finally overcome them. That is why today they do not believe in democracy anymore, they took to the streets with fire, with weapons.”

Till this day, it is not yet known how many people lost their lives during the recent violence. Children also died. Some were shot and killed while closing their windows. Children on the street bled to death due to bullet wounds, Quader pointed out.

During the “Complete Shutdown” programme announced by the students on July 18 demanding cancellation of quota in government jobs, the police box at the footbridge in Mirpur-10 roundabout under the metro line was set on fire.

A train ran through the blaze. The metrorail movement was then promptly halted.

The next evening, extensive vandalism was committed at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations. On the same day, Pallabi and 11 other stations were also attacked by mobs.