Dhaka: The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 126 individuals during block raid operations across various areas of the capital in the first two weeks of March. These raids were part of efforts to uphold law and order in the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the operations targeted crime-prone zones located under several police stations, including Pallabi, Jatrabari, Paltan, Shah Ali, Motijheel, Shahbagh, Sabujbagh, Dakshinkhan, Shahjahanpur, Chawkbazar, and Mirpur. Throughout these operations, law enforcement officials recovered 84 puria of cannabis, 47 yaba tablets, 702 grams of cannabis, and various drug-taking equipment from those apprehended.
Following their arrests, the individuals were brought before the Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court, where they faced summary trials resulting in various terms of imprisonment and fines. Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of DMP, confirmed the details of these operations.
On March 2, the DB Mirpur Division conducted a raid in the Millad Camp area under Pallabi Police Station, resulting in the arrest of 22 individuals. The court imposed six months’ imprisonment on five of them, fined 14 persons Tk 500 each, and sentenced three others to seven days’ imprisonment.
Subsequent operations included a March 5 raid by the DB Wari Division in the City Pori slum area of Dhalpur under Jatrabari Police Station, leading to the arrest of 14 people. Of these, two received seven days’ imprisonment, five were fined Tk 500 each, and seven were acquitted.
Other notable raids include a March 8 operation by the DB Motijheel Division near the National Football Stadium under Paltan Police Station, where one person was arrested and sentenced to 20 days’ imprisonment. On March 9, a raid at Hazrat Shah Ali Mazar under Shah Ali Police Station resulted in 42 arrests, with each detainee receiving one month’s imprisonment.
Further raids on March 10 in areas such as Suhrawardy Udyan under Shahbagh Police Station and Basabo Buddhist Temple under Sabujbagh Police Station saw multiple arrests with varying terms of imprisonment and fines. Additional operations continued across various locations, including Dakshinkhan, Shahjahanpur, Chawkbazar, and Karwan Bazar, resulting in numerous arrests and subsequent court sentences.
DMP officials emphasized that such operations would persist to ensure the maintenance of law and order in Dhaka.