Army raids coaching centre in Rajshahi, seizes arms, bomb-making materials
Three people, including the owner of the coaching centre named 'Doctor English', have been arrested
Bangladesh Army recovered arms, explosives-making materials, and detained three people during a raid at a coaching centre in Rajshahi city this morning (16 August).
A team from the 40 East Bengal Regiment conducted the raid at around 1:30am on the Kandirganj building, which houses the "Doctor English" coaching centre, according to an army press release.
The operation led to the recovery of three firearms with ammunition, a military-grade binocular and sniper scope, six local weapons, seven foreign daggers, five walkie-talkie sets, a military-grade GPS, a taser gun, numerous cartridges, unused SIM cards, bomb-making equipment, six computers, Tk7,445, and local and foreign alcohol.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Additionally, 11 nitrogen cartridges were found and later neutralised by the Bomb Disposal Unit, as they contained live explosives.
The coaching centre's owner, Muntasirul Alam Anindya, along with Md Robin and Md Faisal, were detained during the raid. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian confirmed they have been taken to Boalia Model Police Station, where a case will be filed under the Arms and Explosives Act.
When transported to the station around 3:45pm, Anindya told reporters, "I am innocent. Forensic tests will prove it, and I will be released on bail." His cousin, Neela Zaman, defended him, saying, "Anindya is a good boy. I can't accept these allegations against him."
Anindya is the son of former Rajshahi city BNP vice-president Shafiul Alam Lattu and a relative of former Rajshahi mayor and Awami League leader AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. He had previously been arrested for alleged links to the 2016 Holey Artisan attack and the murder of Rajshahi University teacher Rezaul Karim.
A Fire Service diving team was deployed in a nearby pond to search for additional suspected firearms.
The army press release added that intelligence agencies have begun further investigations and that the operation is ongoing. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Gaziur Rahman stated that full details will be shared once the operation concludes.
