Around 24,000 arrested in special between Dec 1 and 15

A total of 23,968 people including 72 militant and listed criminals were arrested during the country-wide special drive between December 1 and 15.

Sources in the Police Headquarters said among the arrestees 15,968 had warrants against them and 8,000 were arrested in 5,132 cases filed during the drives.

A PHQ official said 33,429 operations were conducted during the 15-day drive in which eight homemade guns, three pistols, five light guns, and eight guns were recovered.

During the drive 2,86,592 pieces of Yaba, 8.6kg heroin, 5415 bottle Phensidyl and 7,580kg cannabis were also seized.

Against the backdrop of the escape of two condemned militants from court premises in Dhaka, the Police Headquarters issued an order on November 29 instructing all its units to launch the special drive.

During the drive the law enforcers, however, could not arrest the two militants -- Moinul Hasan Shamim and Abu Siddiq Sohel of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam. They escaped on November 20 after attacking police.

The special drive was launched to ward off any untoward incident for the safe and smooth celebrations of Victory Day on December 16, Christmas on December 25, and New Year's Eve, the PHQ order said.

The PHQ instructed its filed units to raid hotels, dormitories, hostels, community centres and other institutions in search of "militants, criminals, drug dealers, illegal arms holders, and suspects" with outstanding arrest warrants.

The PHQ instructions came ahead of BNP's divisional rally in Dhaka on December 10.

BNP leaders had alleged that the special drive was to arrest its leaders and activists ahead of its rally.

They also alleged that many of their leaders and activists were arrested in the drive.