Security has been heavily bolstered across Dhaka after a wave of crude bomb explosions and arson attacks on vehicles rattled eight areas of the capital. Metropolitan police forces and the Special Response Battalion have blanketed the city with high-visibility checkpoints and intelligence-led raids to restore order and deter further violence.
In a comprehensive sweep over a 24-hour period, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 515 individuals across multiple divisions, initiating 47 formal cases in connection with the unrest and illegal activities.
To prevent suspects from fleeing and block potential infiltrators, police have established security checkpoints at 250 strategic points, heavily targeting major entrance routes leading into the metropolitan area. Officers stationed at these positions are conducting systematic vehicle searches and identity checks on commuters and drivers. Simultaneously, investigators are gathering and analysing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from regions affected by explosions and arson to trace the movements of those responsible.
The widespread operation resulted in detentions across every major division of the capital. The breakdown of arrests includes 120 individuals detained by the Mirpur Division, 92 by Tejgaon Division, 76 by Motijheel Division, 64 by Wari Division, 46 by Uttara Division, 37 by Gulshan Division, 34 by Lalbagh Division, 30 by Ramna Division, and 16 by the Detective Branch.
During the raids, officers recovered an array of offensive weapons, tactical gear, explosive components, and illegal narcotics. Confiscated items include two precision pistols, two ammunition magazines, 10 live rounds, three meat cleavers, five knives, remnants of exploded crude bombs, and 53 nails designed for shrapnel amplification. Law enforcement personnel also seized a motor vehicle, five mobile handsets, and 7,200 taka in cash. The narcotics trade was similarly targeted during the crackdown, yielding 94.35 kilograms of cannabis, 11,167 Yaba tablets, and 121.3 grams of heroin.
Niaz Mehedi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DMP Public Relations and Media Division, confirmed the scale of the operations, stating that formal legal proceedings against all detained individuals are actively progressing.
Intensive security sweeps of this scale highlight the challenges faced by law enforcement when safeguarding a densely populated metropolis against coordinated acts of sabotage. While the presence of armed checkpoints and street patrols has visibly altered traffic flow at entry arteries, police officials maintain that strict measures will remain in force until public safety is entirely secured and all perpetrators face judicial proceedings.
