PM visits rampaged BTV Bhaban

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the violence-hit state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban at Rampura in the capital on Friday.

She entered the BTV Bhaban at around 9:13am and inspected all the sections damaged heavily in Thursday's mayhem by the BNP-Jamaat clique taking advantage of the quota-reform movement.

The Prime Minister was seen disappointed and unhappy after witnessing the magnitude of devastation in the BTV Bhaban.

She was also seen teary-eyed while the air had become heavy as BTV officials were trying to hold back their tears after seeing the wreckage of devastation at the BTV Bhaban.

High officials including its Director General Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam gave a brief description of the insane rampage in the BTV Bhaban.

A video presentation on the vandalism in BTV Headquarters and BTV Bhaban was also screened on the occasion.

The Prime Minister was seen consoling the crying General Manager of BTV Mahfuza Akter.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat was present during the visit.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain, Principal Secretary Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Information and Broadcasting Senior Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker and PM's Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam were present, among others.

In the afternoon of July 18, miscreants in large numbers entered the BTV Bhaban by breaking its main gate.

They first set fire to several vehicles parked there and later went inside the BTV Bhaban and damaged and torched various sections on different floors.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) took control of the BTV at night on Thursday.

The Premier visited the BTV Bhaban, a day after her visit to the damaged Mirpur-10 Metrorail Station on Wednesday morning.

According to the available statistics provided by the BTV, the rampage left havoc in the BTV's various infrastructures, broadcasting equipment, design section, office building and rooms.