In a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations across Kamrangirchar and Keraniganj on the outskirts of Dhaka, detectives have arrested four active members of a banned extremist organisation and recovered a cache of firearms, ammunition, surveillance equipment and materials linked to radical propaganda.
Law enforcement officials said the suspects are believed to have been involved in planning sabotage activities and covert attacks targeting sensitive locations within the capital. Authorities further suspect that the group was attempting to use modern technology, including drone-based surveillance, to assist in operational planning and reconnaissance.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Md Imran Chowdhury (29), Md Mostakim Chowdhury (25), Ripon Hossain Sheikh (28), and Abu Bakkar (25). The arrests were made at different times between early Tuesday and midday following continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering.
According to investigators, the first arrest was made at approximately 3:05 a.m. on Tuesday from a residential building in the Koilaghata area near Tara Mosque in Kamrangirchar. Md Imran Chowdhury was taken into custody during that raid. Subsequently, at around 5:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Md Mostakim Chowdhury was arrested from the Jianagar area of Keraniganj. The remaining two suspects, Ripon Hossain Sheikh and Abu Bakkar, were apprehended later the same day at around 12:30 p.m. near the Sikshan Bridge area in Rasulpur, Kamrangirchar.
Officials confirmed that the operations were carried out without major incident and were based on prior intelligence regarding the suspects’ movements and hideouts.
During the searches, law enforcement recovered a significant quantity of weapons and equipment believed to have been used for both offensive planning and covert monitoring. Among the seized items were a foreign-made pistol, a locally assembled single-barrel firearm, live ammunition, spent cartridges, multiple mobile phones, a drone system with control components, a metal detector device, and several books and leaflets suspected to contain extremist ideological material.
Investigators believe the recovered drone equipment was intended for surveillance purposes, potentially to monitor key infrastructure or assist in planning targeted operations. The presence of ideological literature has also strengthened suspicions that the group was engaged in recruitment and radicalisation efforts.
Seized materials recovered during the raids
| Item | Description / Quantity |
|---|---|
| Foreign-made pistol | 1 unit |
| Single-barrel firearm | 1 unit |
| Live ammunition | 14 rounds |
| Spent cartridge cases | 3 pieces |
| Mobile phones | Multiple units |
| Drone | 1 unit |
| Drone accessories | Various components |
| Metal detector | 1 unit |
| Books and leaflets | Several items |
Security officials stated that the arrested individuals are being interrogated under relevant legal provisions, and efforts are underway to identify other associates linked to the network. Investigators are also working to trace the organisation’s funding channels, communication structure, and wider operational footprint within and beyond the capital.
Authorities have intensified security monitoring across Dhaka in response to the arrests, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to extremist activity. Further operations have not been ruled out as intelligence agencies continue to map the suspected network.