The Bangladesh Army has recovered 56 illegal firearms and arrested 996 individuals in a nationwide crackdown on crime over the past three weeks, Colonel Md Shafiqul Islam of the Directorate of Military Operations and Plan disclosed the figures at a press briefing at Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday.
He said the operations, launched as part of a broader effort to combat organised crime, arms smuggling, and narcotics, have resulted in the recovery of 990 rounds of ammunition and the arrest of gang members, listed criminals, and suspected robbers.
To date, the army has arrested a total of 15,262 individuals in crime-related raids across the country.
Among the high-profile arrests, the army apprehended listed terrorist Subrata Bain alias Fateh Ali and his associate Molla Masud in Kushtia on May 27. Acting on their confessions, security personnel later detained two additional suspects — Arafat and Sharif — from Hatirjheel area in Dhaka, seizing five foreign pistols, 53 rounds of ammunition, 10 ammo magazines, and a satellite phone.
On the same day, another special operation in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area led to the arrest of alleged criminal Farid Ahmed Babu alias “Excel Babu” and three others near a Buriganga Filling Station in Mohammedpur. The group faces multiple charges, including murder, abduction, extortion, and land grabbing.
On June 4, the army arrested gangster Buniya Sohel and 10 associates from Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur. Sohel is accused in more than 30 criminal cases. Weapons, narcotics, and cash were recovered during the raid.
In another key operation on June 5 in Cox’s Bazar’s Majhir Kata area, the army detained Shahinur Rahman alias Shahin Dakat and two accomplices. The team recovered an automatic firearm along with four other guns, ammunitions, blades, and drugs. Shahin is reportedly wanted in over 20 criminal cases.
A day later, top Kushtia-based criminal Jahangir Kabir Lipton and three others were arrested in Durbachar. Authorities seized six foreign pistols, a long-barrel firearm, 10 magazines, and 119 rounds of ammunition during the raid.
In its anti-narcotics efforts, the army has apprehended 452 drug dealers in the past three weeks, bringing the total number of arrests since August to 5,476. Large hauls of yaba, phensedyl, marijuana, and liquor have also been confiscated.
On June 6, troops raided a concealed illegal alcohol factory in Savar’s Luter Char, disguised as a gas lighter plant. The operation uncovered over 8,600 litres of liquor and related raw materials.
Beyond security, the army has taken part in humanitarian missions, including flood response efforts in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila, where a damaged embankment was urgently repaired with the help of locals. In Habiganj, troops distributed food on Eid day to residents stranded by flooding.
Col Shafiqul also noted that the army has also provided security in industrial zones since last August. In a high-level meeting on May 27, steps were taken to ensure garment workers received pending wages before Eid.
In another public safety measure, the army supported a mobile court in raiding a Mirpur-based chocolate factory for producing adulterated goods. The factory was fined Tk 7 lakh and temporarily closed.
“These operations reaffirm the Bangladesh Army’s commitment to national security, public safety, and humanitarian support,” said Col Shafiqul.