Dhaka Metropolitan Police have detained 401 suspects and seized an array of weapons and illegal drugs during a sweeping 24-hour operation across the capital. The extensive security drive, conducted across all administrative police divisions in the city, reflects an ongoing effort by law enforcement agencies to maintain public order, curb street crime, and disrupt local illicit drug networks.
An official media release issued by the police headquarters on Wednesday confirmed that 26 separate cases have been filed in connection with the widespread operations. Metropolitan officers systematically targeted known crime hotspots and residential zones across various neighbourhoods. A division-wise breakdown shows that police made the highest number of arrests in Tejgaon, where officers apprehended 74 individuals, followed closely by Mirpur with 71 arrests. In Motijheel, 68 individuals were taken into custody, while operations in the Wari division yielded 51 arrests. Police also detained 42 suspects in Uttara, 36 in Gulshan, 34 in Lalbagh, and 24 in Ramna, alongside a single arrest executed by the Detective Branch.
During the raids, police seized several dangerous weapons, including a sword, a meat cleaver, an iron rod, and a specialized iron implement featuring a sharp circular blade. Officers also confiscated a private saloon car, though official sources did not immediately disclose the vehicle’s ownership details or its specific involvement in ongoing criminal investigations. Concurrently, anti-narcotics units operating throughout the capital recovered 95 yaba tablets, 70 grams of heroin, and 668 grams of cannabis.
Operations of this scale form a crucial element of the law enforcement strategy in Dhaka, a densely populated metropolis where police frequently conduct coordinated drives to combat gang activity and drug trafficking. Senior officials stated that legal proceedings against all 401 detainees are currently underway, with formal charge sheets being prepared for judicial presentation. Police authorities emphasized that while these round-the-clock drives aim to secure vulnerable neighbourhoods, every individual apprehended remains a suspect until charges are proven in a court of law. Vigilance across key transit hubs and residential districts has been heightened following the arrests to deter potential criminal disruptions.
