Over 7,000 arrested in first seven days of October
Law enforcers arrest highest 1,259 people nationwide on 3 October
Over 7,000 people have been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police across the country between 1 and 7 October.
The majority of those arrested are leaders and activists of the Awami League, with cases filed against them for their involvement in incidents of casualties during the student movement, as well as for other crimes such as drug smuggling, murder, and robbery.
Data from the police headquarters, analysed by eight metropolitan police units, nine ranges (including the railway range), and RAB, show a total of 7,018 arrests during this period, with RAB accounting for 400 of these.
The highest number of arrests took place in the Chattogram range, with 1,249 people arrested, followed by Dhaka range with 1,033 arrests, and Rajshahi range, where 864 people were taken into custody. The peak occurred on 3 October, with 1,259 arrests made in a single day nationwide.
Among the metropolitan police units, Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested the highest number of individuals, with 763 arrests, averaging more than 100 arrests per day in the first week of October.
In recent months, law enforcement agencies have faced heavy criticism for the escape of prominent individuals, including Awami League leaders, who are accused of being responsible for hundreds of deaths during the student movement.
There has also been criticism over the reluctance to arrest known gunmen who were involved in firing at students and civilians.
Assistant Inspector General Enamul Haque said that there has been a rise in arrests in areas with high crime rates, although no special operation is underway aside from the recovery of weapons.
Who the arrestees are and why now
The priority in these arrests has been to apprehend those accused of involvement in casualties during the student uprising.
Sources involved in the arrests confirmed that high-profile figures, including former ministers, members of parliament, prominent leaders, and former government officials, are among the accused.
Many of these individuals had already been implicated in previous cases of serious crimes and corruption.
In addition to these, those involved in attacking the student movement, particularly those armed, are being targeted. Members of the Awami League and its associated organisations, who played a key role in suppressing the movement or organising attacks, are also being arrested.
Since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, 222 cases have been filed against Sheikh Hasina, with 190 of these being murder cases.
Alongside Sheikh Hasina, former ministers, Awami League leaders, former police officials, and other government officials have been named as accused in these cases.
So far, 45 high-profile individuals, including ministers, parliamentarians, and journalists, have been arrested. Among them are former ministers Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Narayan Chandra Chanda, as well as former chief secretary Nojibur Rahman, who were detained on Sunday.
Abul Kalam Azad, a former member of parliament and former chief secretary to the Prime Minister's office, was arrested on Saturday. Several other former ministers, parliamentarians, and government officials have also been arrested over the past week.
Previously, during the Awami League regime, around 250-300 individuals were arrested daily in the capital, particularly during periods of political unrest. However, the majority of those arrested at that time were political leaders and activists.
The delay in the recent arrests has been attributed to the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies following the fall of the Awami League government.
Regarding the recent rise in arrests, Assistant Inspector General Enamul Haque said, "Initially we faced several challenges in policing as hundreds of police stations were torched and vandalised and many vehicles were damaged too. But now the new leadership in field-level policing is recovering from that situation."
The government has faced criticism from various quarters, including the student movement, for its slow response in making arrests. As a result, efforts to strengthen the arrest operations have intensified. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are prioritising security measures ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations.