The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

At least 18,500 people been arrested so far by Joint Forces in the anti-crime crackdown launched across the country under emergency power rules.

The mass arrests, included Awami League, BNP, Jamaat and Jatiya Party leaders.

A press release issued by the Police headquarters yesterday said 1,548 people were arrested in the past 24 hours. The law enforcers also recovered 17 firearms, seven crude bombs, 12 cocktails and 56 rounds of bullet during the period, it added.

Besides, 62 motorbikes were seized for not having valid documents and 3030 cases filed under the Motor Vehicle Act during the drive.

In Chandpur, Joint Forces recovered 46 rounds of bullet and a bayonet from an abandoned godown of the Kachua upazila administrative building on Saturday.

Sources said some workers found the bullets and bayonet in the godown when they were cleaning it at noon and informed the officials.

Later, on information, Joint Forces rushed to the spot and recovered the weapon and bullets. None was arrested in this connection.

Khulna, Elite force RAB arrested Rupsha upazila unit BNP vice president Julfikar Ali Julu along with a firearm and seven cocktails from his house at Aichghati village yesterday.

Being tipped off, a team of RAB-6 raided the house of Julfikar, also chairman of Aichghati Union Parishad at about 3:00am and arrested him. They recovered one pipe gun the cocktails from his possession.

He was later handed over to local police in the morning. A case was filed against him under Arms Act.

In Narsingdi the Joint Forces arrested former general secretary of Chattra Dal Nasiruddin Ahmed. He was the son of former MP Samsul Ahmed Ishak.

He was later handed over to local police in the morning.

In Jhenidah, three powerful bombs were recovered at Mathpara village in Shailakupa upazila yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team of the district recovered the bombs and two knives wrapped in a polythene bag at about 2:30pm.

The bombs and knives were taken to Shailakupa Police Station.

In Satkhira, elite force RAB arrested a woman drug peddler and recovered 1.5 kg of hemp at Bankal village in Sadar upazila on Saturday.

Acting on a tip off, a team of RAB-6 raided the house of Alfia Begum at noon and arrested her along with the hemp.

Later, she was handed over to the police.

Police said Alfia has been involved with drug smuggling since long.