DHAKA, Jan 5, 2026 (BSS) – The law enforcement agencies have arrested 14,569 crime suspects and seized 201 firearms along with a large cache of ammunition during a nationwide crackdown over the past 23 days. 

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury revealed it at a press briefing here today after the 19th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

He said the arrests were made under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, which was launched on December 13, 2025.

“As of January 4, 2026, a total of 14,569 people have been arrested under the ongoing operation,” the Home Adviser said.
 
Including those apprehended in previous cases and on outstanding warrants, the total number of arrested crime suspects during the period stands at 33,804.

He added that during the period, the law enforcement agencies recovered 201 firearms, 1,541 rounds of bullets, 566 cartridges, 165 local weapons, as well as grenades, mortar shells, gunpowder, and equipment used to manufacture bombs and crackers from different parts of the country.

The Home Adviser said patrols and check posts have been increased significantly to prevent criminals from evading arrest and to intensify efforts to recover looted firearms.

Highlighting the government’s anti-drug efforts, he said the Department of Narcotics Control filed 658 cases and conducted 1,613 mobile courts in December 2025, arresting 2,375 people and seizing large quantities of narcotics, cash, and vehicles.

He also reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance against communal disharmony, emphasizing strict measures to prevent the spread of rumors, social media propaganda, and provocative statements.