16,000 held as army ramps up nationwide anti-crime drives
Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Army has significantly intensified its nationwide crackdown on crime over the past month, arresting thousands of criminals and dismantling networks involved in terrorism, narcotics, smuggling, and corruption.
At a press briefing held at the Officers’ Mess in Dhaka Cantonment, Brigadier General Md. Nazim-ud-Daula, Director of the Military Operations Directorate, provided an update on the wide-ranging operations.
Colonel Md. Shafiqul Islam, Colonel Staff of the same directorate, answered questions from the press.
According to official figures, 16,459 individuals have been detained since the interim government assumed office, with 813 arrests carried out in the past four weeks alone.
In this time, the army seized 37 illegal firearms and 179 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, since August last year, 9,729 of 12,119 missing weapons and nearly 287,033 rounds of ammunition have been recovered.
Among those detained are notorious terrorists, armed robbers, gang members, and other criminals.
In a notable recent operation, wanted terrorist Yamin Siddiqui Nisat was captured in Kalabagan on July 14 with a foreign-made pistol and ammunition.
On July 19, a raid in Rupganj led to the arrest of seven suspects along with a stash of illegal drugs and weapons.
The army’s anti-drug operations continue to gain momentum, resulting in 5,576 arrests since last August, including 55 suspected drug dealers detained in recent raids across Rampura, Mohammadpur, Uttara, Bhashantek, Faridpur, and Cumilla.
Efforts to curb smuggling have also seen success. Troops seized illegal medicines worth Tk 1.12 crore in Sunamganj, while banned cosmetics, clothes, and coffee were recovered from Sylhet.
The drive extends to tackling corruption and safeguarding consumers.
In recent weeks, four brokers were arrested for illegally issuing driving licences at BRTA offices in Dhaka and Purbachal. Two eateries Taqdir Food Beverages and Royal Slice were fined and sealed off for producing adulterated food items.
The army has also cracked down on illegal extraction of natural resources.
Operations in Sunamganj and Sylhet recovered 34 boats, seven bulkheads, five dredgers, a pickup truck, and over 60,500 cubic feet of illegally mined sand, resulting in the arrest of 96 suspects.
In other notable interventions:
A suspect was caught during an attempted murder in Darus Salam on July 16.
Two murder suspects were detained in Mohammadpur, preventing possible mob retaliation.
Two women were arrested on July 11 for spreading fake bomb threats about a Dhaka-Nepal flight.
Kamrul Mia, a major figure in mobile financial fraud and online gambling, was arrested in Faridpur with his associates, along with seized SIM cards and yaba pills.
Six people were apprehended on June 26 for torturing two women over a land dispute; the victims have since received advanced medical care at no cost.
The army has also remained active in providing medical support and ensuring public safety during times of unrest.
During the July protests, 889 injured civilians were treated at army-run facilities. Security was also ensured during the Ulta Rath Yatra on July 5, and the army continues to safeguard diplomats and religious harmony nationwide.
Demonstrating professionalism and courage, troops took part in the rescue operation at Milestone School in Uttara following an Air Force training aircraft crash on July 21. Of the 41 injured, 11 remain under treatment. Fourteen bodies were handed over to families, while 29 soldiers were injured during the rescue; one remains hospitalized.
Additionally, five soldiers were hurt during an attack near the Secretariat on July 22 amid demonstrations by HSC examinees. They received prompt treatment at the Secretariat clinic before being shifted to CMH.
In the Chattogram Hill Tracts, sustained operations from July 3 to 31 resulted in the arrest of seven terrorists and the dismantling of abandoned training camps in Baghaihat and Bandarban.
Arms, yaba, crystal meth, cannabis, illegal cigarettes, and other contraband were recovered along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Addressing journalists, Brigadier General Nazim-ud-Daula confirmed that the army also intervened to ensure the safety of National Citizen Party (NCP) members in Gopalganj who had received death threats.
He reiterated the Bangladesh Army’s firm commitment to upholding law and order, combating crime and extremism, and protecting the safety and security of all citizens across the country.