Law enforcement officers across eleven districts in the Chattogram Range have arrested 871 individuals during a comprehensive 24-hour special operation targeting street gangs, mugging, extortion, terrorism, and narcotics trade. Chattogram Range Police Office confirmed the details of the region-wide crackdown in an official press release issued on Sunday, 1 November.

The coordinated drive aimed to curb rising criminal activity and restore public order across southeastern Bangladesh. According to police figures, 70 individuals were apprehended under regular ongoing cases, 58 under previous charges, 29 under Section 34 of the Police Act, 6 under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and 43 under Section 151 and other statutory provisions. In addition, officers executed outstanding arrest warrants for 88 suspects and took 20 convicted offenders into custody following the issuance of judicial conviction warrants.

A major focus of the operation targeted youth gang networks that have increasingly threatened public safety. Officers detained 486 suspects associated with juvenile gang activities across the range. Following preliminary enquiries, authorities released 341 individuals into the custody of their families after securing written undertakings from their parents. Formal legal proceedings have been initiated against the remaining 145 individuals.

Law enforcement also targeted illicit drug trafficking networks across the region, apprehending 100 individuals in connection with narcotics offences. This total included 29 suspected drug dealers arrested under regular and statutory cases, alongside 71 drug users. Mobile courts operating alongside police units convicted 36 individuals, handing down short custodial sentences and imposing BDT 6,300 in fines. Police registered 18 new narcotics cases, seizing 24,708 Yaba tablets, 1.04 kilograms of cannabis, and seven litres of contraband alcohol during searches.

The sweep also targeted outlawed organisations, resulting in the detention of 16 active members from a banned group across five districts. Officers arrested nine individuals in Feni, three in Chattogram, two in Cumilla, and one each in Cox’s Bazar and Brahmanbaria.

District breakdown of total arrests made during the 24-hour operation:

Chattogram Range Police reiterated that such intelligence-led special operations will continue across all eleven districts to maintain law and order, dismantle criminal syndicates, and guarantee public safety.