Rajshahi, Aug 16 (V7N) — In a joint security operation in the Kadirganj (Darikhrobona) area of Rajshahi city, Bangladeshi army personnel from the 40 East Bengal (Mechanized) regiment recovered a cache of illegal arms, explosives, and equipment used for manufacturing bombs from a residential building housing a coaching center named "Doctor English."
 
Acting on intelligence gathered over a month-long surveillance, the military conducted a special overnight raid starting at around 1:30 AM on Friday. During the operation, the premises were surrounded and later searched. A bomb disposal unit successfully defused an explosive device at approximately 1:00 PM.
 
Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of involvement in arms and explosives manufacturing. Among the detainees is Muntasirul Alam Anindya, the owner and English instructor at Doctor English. He is the son of BNP leader Shafiul Alam Latku and a cousin of former Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. The other two arrested are Faisal Ahmed, 28, a friend of Anindya, and Robin Islam, 28, a local mosque caretaker. Both were reportedly employed at the coaching center.
 
According to an official statement released by the Rajshahi Cantonment Commander, the operation led to the seizure of three firearms and ammunition, six locally-made weapons, five high-grade walkie-talkie sets, a military-grade GPS device, a sniper scope, a taser gun, various local and foreign cartridges, a large number of unused SIM cards, bomb-making components, six computer sets, Tk 7,445 in cash, assorted local and foreign liquor, and 11 nitrogen cartridges.
 
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Gazipur Rahman confirmed that a joint task force is conducting the ongoing investigation. He added that a more detailed briefing would be provided after the recovered weapons and materials are officially handed over to the police.
 
The authorities are currently analyzing the seized equipment and interrogating the suspects to determine the scale of the operation and whether it is linked to any larger network.
 
END/MRA/SMA/