Against the backdrop of arson, vandalism and attacks on lawmen during the blockade and hartals, the joint forces of Rab, BGB and Police have taken up special drives in an attempt to capture around 2,300 suspects and rein in violence ahead of the January 5 election.
Of the total, 25 listed criminals had been arrested during the combing operation in the wee hours of yesterday in the capital’s Jatrabari, Demra and Kadomtoli areas, police said.
Some 42 people were detained during the drive, 17 of which were released after verificaiton.
Of the 25 listed criminals, five were arrested from Demra, two from Kadomtoli, and 19 from Jatrabari.
The five are Md Shamsul Huq Nilu, 48, Shahjahan Mollah, 42, Harun-or-Rashid, 50, Shaon, 22, and Ziku while the two arrestees in Kadomtoli are Manik Hossain, alias Monir, 35, and Arif Raihan, alias Jewel, 18.
The arrestees in Jatrabari are Md Russell, 18, Md Mosharraf, 18, Shariful Islam, 22, Yasir Arafat, 17, Mahabubur Rahman, 32, Abdullah Al Mamun, 23, Delwar, alias Appel, 34, Nur Karim, 30, Zahirul Islam, 20, Fahad Abdullah, 18, Abul Bashar Samrat, 40, Arif Raihan Shubho, 18, Abul Kalam, 56, Mehedi Hasan, alias Asif, 20, Noman Siddiq, 18, Saiful Islam, 18, Tariqul Islam, 21, and Md Chan Miah, 35.
The joint squad launched its drive as part of preventive measures alongside the armed forces deployed countrywide to facilitate holding the 10th parliamentary polls undisrupted.
Col Ziaul Ahsan, additional director general of Rab (Operation), said primarily they had the names of around 2,000 criminals on the list, most of whom were accused of murder, possession of illegal arms, arms and drug dealings and various other criminal charges.
Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said the special drives would continue in and around the capital.
He, however, declined to disclose where the operation would be conducted.
“The 25 were shown arrest after verification by the joint forces,” Monirul said.
The police high-up also declined to disclose the number of forces deployed for the purpose of special combing operation.
But BGB, Rab and Police were tasked with the operation, he added.
“BGB, Rab and police are in the squad with uniforms while a team of plainclothes police is also taking part in the operation,” said the joint commissioner.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the DMP spokesperson added that those accused in different cases like arson, blasts, extortion as well as possession of illegal arms, drug peddling, plus fugitives and wanted criminals were among the targets of the combined forces.
DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said at the Media Centre the arrestees were handed over to the concerned police station.
Sub-Inspector Rezaul Islam of Jatrabari police station said a total of 17 people were shown arrest after verification while Kadomtoli police said eight were arrested in that area.
