Police last night launched a massive block raid in the capital's Bashundhara Residential Area and its adjacent Kalachandpur to arrest “drug peddlers and criminals”.

Equipped with armoured personnel carrier and dog squad, around 1,500 law enforcers, including members of Detective Branch (DB) of police, started the raid around 8:30pm, police said.

The raid was underway when this report was filed around 1:30am today.

The move came two days after a clash in the area between police and students demanding road safety measures. The law enforcers, however, claimed that the raid had nothing to do with the clash.

SM Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Bhatara Police Station, said, “Around 1,500 law enforcers have taken part in the block raid which is being conducted as part of our ongoing drive against narcotics, militants and criminals”.

He did not say whether anyone was arrested.

On Monday, students of North South University (NSU) and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) clashed with law enforcers. The incident took place when the students were demonstrating against recent attacks on other protesting students.

Police fired several teargas shells and rubber bullets during the clash, leaving at least 40 people, mostly students, injured.

The two universities are situated in Bashundhara area.

Contacted, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman said, “A regular drive was being carried out in the area to arrest drug peddlers and criminals.”

However, witnesses told the newspapers that the law enforcers were mainly raiding students' accommodations.  

Locals said police had also raided  areas in Bashundhara and looked for protesting students on Monday night.