The joint team, however, failed to recover any firearms during the raid spanning Sher Shah Suri Road, Tajmahal Road, Nurjahan Road, Banshbari, Geneva Camp, Bijli Mahalla, Jahuri Mahalla and Adabar under ward Nos. 42, 43, 44 and parts of 45.

Earlier, none of the 38 people arrested Monday during block raids in Kuril Badda was found to have links to the gunrunners who left behind four AK-47 assault rifles, two revolvers, 20 hand grenades, four time bombs, a large number of AK-47 ammunition and other explosives as they escaped.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Ashraful Huda however termed yesterday's raid more successful than the Badda raid in that five of the 150 criminals listed with Mohammadpur Police Station were arrested.

"It was like any regular raid for criminal hunt, but was more effective due to the curfew which was necessary given the gravity of the situation surrounding the arms haul in Badda," Huda said.

"The curfew during the raid proved effective and we have decided to conduct more such raids from time to time," he added.

The decision to slap curfew during the Mohammadpur raid on suspected criminal hideouts was taken at a DMP meeting chaired by Huda at 9:00pm Monday.

"We heard an announcement at around 11:45 Monday night that those venturing outside after midnight would be arrested," said Abdur Rehman, a resident of Geneva Camp.

Led by Assistant Deputy Commissioner (West Zone) Morshed Alam, the joint team raided some houses blacklisted by Mohammadpur Police. The Detective Branch and Special Branch of police assisted the raid.

Apart from the five arrested listed criminals Suman, Naju, Ismail, Mazharul and Nata Bhulu, six of the arrested had warrants issued for their arrest and 13 others accused in different cases.

"Another 32 were rounded up for violating the curfew," the DMP commissioner said, adding they would be released after questioning.

Total 450 police and 160 BDR personnel took part in the raids that ended at 5:00am yesterday.