The Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police seized weapons and crude bombs in a raid at the BNP's central office following multiple explosions in Dhaka's Nayapaltan area.

Seven people, including Kazi Raonkul Islam Shravan, the former president of BNP's student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and a current member of BNP's executive committee, were arrested during the midnight raid on Tuesday.

DB chief Harunor Rashid said that the police recovered over 100 cocktails, 500 sticks, seven firearms (both local and foreign), and several bottles of petrol from the BNP office.

The anti-quota movement, which has been ongoing for the past two weeks, escalated into violence, with students and job-seekers blocking roads since Tuesday afternoon.

Six fatalities were reported amid the clashes in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rangpur on Tuesday.

According to the DB chief, BNP and its allied organisations have been instigating the quota movement. They marched in various places on Tuesday, set buses on fire, and detonated cocktails. In response, the intelligence branch raided the BNP office and seized a large quantity of cocktails, firearms, and sticks.

Additional Commissioner Rashid mentioned that some individuals are supporting the quota movement through financial contributions, while others are supplying water and weapons.

“I have identified the names and numbers of all those who carried out conspiratorial work around this anti-quota movement. We will arrest them soon,” he said. 

BDST: 0804 HRS, JULY 17, 2024
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