Arms and Drone Cell Busted in Dhaka

Bangladesh police have arrested four alleged members of a banned extremist network in a series of coordinated raids across Kamrangirchar and Keraniganj on the outskirts of Dhaka, recovering firearms, ammunition, a drone and specialised surveillance equipment believed to have been intended for subversive operations.

The detainees have been identified as Md Imran Chowdhury (29), Md Mostakim Chowdhury (25), Ripon Hossain Sheikh (28), and Abu Bakkar (25). According to the Detective Branch (DB) of police under the Ramna division, the arrests were carried out between early Tuesday morning and midday Wednesday as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected clandestine activities.

Officials said the first arrest was made at approximately 3:05 am on Tuesday from a residence in the Koylaghat area near Tara Mosque in Kamrangirchar, where Imran Chowdhury was taken into custody. Subsequent raids led to the arrest of Mostakim Chowdhury at around 5:40 am on Wednesday from the Jiyanagar area of Keraniganj. Later the same day, at approximately 12:30 pm, Ripon Hossain Sheikh and Abu Bakkar were apprehended during a separate operation near the Shikson Bridge area of Rosulpur in Kamrangirchar.

Law enforcement officials reported the recovery of a significant cache of equipment during the raids, including a foreign-made pistol, a locally crafted single-barrel firearm, 14 rounds of ammunition, three spent bullet casings, multiple smartphones, a metal detector, a drone, and various drone-related accessories. Investigators also seized printed materials, including books and leaflets, which are now being examined for links to extremist ideology and organisational networks.

Authorities suspect that the arrested individuals are affiliated with a proscribed group identified as “Aksa” and were allegedly engaged in planning sabotage activities and covert attacks in different parts of the capital. Preliminary findings suggest that the group was attempting to expand its operational capabilities through the use of modern surveillance tools such as drones, alongside conventional firearms.

Police have confirmed that legal proceedings are underway against the suspects, and further investigations are being conducted to determine the extent of their network, sources of equipment, and potential links to other operatives.

Arrest and Seizure Summary

Security analysts note that the use of unmanned aerial devices in such contexts marks a growing concern for urban law enforcement agencies, as non-traditional tools are increasingly being integrated into illicit operational planning.