23,968 held in special drive on Dec 1-15

A total of 23,968 people, including 72 suspected militants and listed criminals, were detained during a nationwide special drive from December 1 to 15.

Among them, 15,968 had arrest warrants against them while 8,000 were held in 5,132 cases filed during the drive, according to Police Headquarters (PHQ) sources.

Seeking anonymity, a PHQ official said 33,429 operations were carried out during the 15-day drive, and the law enforcers recovered 24 firearms, including three pistols.

They also seized 2,86,592 yaba pills, 8.6 kilograms of heroin, 5,415 bottles of phensedyl, and 7,580 kilograms of cannabis.

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

The law enforcers, however, could not arrest the two -- Moinul Hasan Shamim and Abu Siddiq Sohel -- both members of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam.