Security has been stepped up across the capital following a series of crude bomb explosions and arson attacks targeting vehicles in eight areas of Dhaka. Metropolitan police forces, alongside the Special Response Battalion, have deployed extensive measures to restore order and safeguard the public.
Over the past 24 hours, law enforcement agencies conducted a series of special drives across various parts of the city, resulting in the arrest of 515 individuals and the filing of 47 separate cases.
To secure the city, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has established security checkpoints at 250 strategic points, including key entry gates into the capital. Officers stationed at these posts are carrying out rigorous stop-and-search operations alongside identity verifications. Investigators are currently reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from areas affected by the explosions and vehicle fires to identify the perpetrators responsible for the violence.
A breakdown of the arrests across various police divisions and specialized units includes 30 individuals detained by the Ramna Division, 34 by the Lalbagh Division, 64 by the Wari Division, 76 by the Motijheel Division, 92 by the Tejgaon Division, 120 by the Mirpur Division, 37 by the Gulshan Division, 46 by the Uttara Division, and 16 by the Detective Branch.
During these targeted drives, law enforcement personnel recovered a substantial quantity of weapons, explosive residue, and illicit substances. Seized items include two precision pistols, two magazines, 10 rounds of live ammunition, three meat cleavers, five knives, remnants of exploded crude bombs, and 53 nails intended for sharp explosives. Officers also confiscated a transport vehicle, five mobile phones, and 7,200 taka in cash. Furthermore, significant quantities of narcotics were seized during the raids, comprising 94.35 kilograms of cannabis, 11,167 Yaba pills, 121.3 grams of heroin, and various other illicit substances.
Niaz Mehedi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DMP Public Relations and Media Division, confirmed the details of the arrests and seizures, stating that formal legal proceedings against the detained individuals are currently underway.
Capital security operations remain on high alert following periods of public unrest or coordinated violence. Heavy vehicular traffic and dense urban infrastructure in Dhaka often present complex challenges for law enforcement during large-scale security operations. Police officials emphasized that heightened vigilance, vehicle inspections, and intelligence-led raids across all residential and commercial zones will persist until the threat to public safety subsides.
