Joint forces arrest 504, recover firearms and drugs in nationwide drive

Joint forces led by the Bangladesh Army have seized a large quantity of illegal firearms, ammunition, cocktails, locally made weapons and domestic and foreign drugs in operations across the country, with 504 people arrested.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate, ISPR, confirmed the information in a statement on January 30.

ISPR said the illegal items were seized during operations conducted between January 23 and January 29. Units under various infantry divisions and independent brigades of the Bangladesh Army carried out joint drives with other law enforcement agencies in different parts of the country, including the capital.

During the drives, 504 suspected criminals, including militants, drug traders, drug addicts, robbers, teenage gang members and smugglers, were arrested red-handed. Authorities recovered 48 illegal firearms, 75 rounds of ammunition, 95 cocktails and various weapons and drugs from their possession.

The arrested individuals have been handed over to relevant police stations for interrogation and legal proceedings.

ISPR also said the Bangladesh Army is conducting regular patrols and security operations nationwide to ensure public safety and is performing duties to control labour unrest in industrial areas. The army’s operations will continue to maintain law and order, and citizens have been urged to inform nearby army camps about any suspicious activity.

The statement added that 1,507 people have been arrested since the election schedule was announced on December 11, during which 153 weapons and 1,834 rounds of ammunition were seized.