Police have detained 63 foreign nationals and seized around 70 devices, including laptops and mobile phones, during a raid on an eight-storey building in Chittagong’s Jalalabad area.
The joint operation by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and Chittagong Metropolitan Police began on Thursday afternoon and continued late into the night.
The detainees include citizens of China, Pakistan, Laos and Vietnam.
Following the raid, law enforcement agencies launched an investigation to determine the nature of activities carried out at the premises. Police are also verifying the legal status of the detainees’ stay in Bangladesh, their visa categories and their links with any organisations or institutions.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali confirmed the operation on Thursday night.
“A drive is underway in a building,” he told reporters, adding that details would be disclosed after the operation was completed.
A police official involved in the operation said law enforcement launched the raid based on intelligence about the presence of foreign nationals and alleged suspicious activities inside the building.
The official said police were checking the identities, documents and reasons for stay of all 63 nationals, as their purpose of visiting Bangladesh and residing at the location was yet to be established.
A source familiar with the operation said law enforcement had prior information about the regular movement of foreign nationals, large-scale financial transactions and alleged casino-like activities at the building. However, police have not officially confirmed these allegations.
Investigators said the seized laptops and mobile phones would be examined as key evidence. Data from the devices, including communication records, financial information and online activities, will be analysed to determine the nature of operations at the building and the links among those detained.
The police operation and verification process continued beyond 12:30am. Authorities have not yet announced any specific charges against the detainees or outlined the next legal steps.
