Arms, Explosives Materials Seized in Rajshahi Coaching Centre Raid; Three Detained

Bangladesh Army recovered firearms, explosives-making equipment, and other materials, and detained three individuals during a raid at a coaching centre in Rajshahi city early on 16 August.

A team from the 40 East Bengal Regiment carried out the operation at the Kandirganj building, home to the “Doctor’s English” coaching centre, around 1:30 AM, according to a press release issued by the army.

During the raid, the army seized three firearms and ammunition, a military-grade binocular with a sniper scope, six locally-made weapons, seven foreign daggers, five high-quality walkie-talkie sets, a military-grade GPS device, a taser gun, assorted local and foreign cartridges, a large number of unused SIM cards, bomb-making materials, six computers, Tk 7,445 in cash, and various alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, 11 nitrogen cartridges were recovered and later safely neutralized by the Bomb Disposal Unit as they contained live explosives.

The owner of the coaching centre, Muntasirul Alam Anindya, along with two others identified as Md Robin and Md Faisal, were detained during the operation.

While being taken to Boalia Model Police Station around 3:45 PM, Anindya told reporters, “I am innocent. Forensic tests will prove it, and I will be released on bail.” His cousin, Neela Zaman, also defended him, saying, “Anindya is a good boy. I cannot 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 by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for alleged links to the 2016 Holey Artisan attack in Dhaka.

The army stated that the raid was carried out following one month of intelligence surveillance. A Fire Service diving team was deployed in a nearby pond to search for additional suspected firearms.

“The relevant intelligence agencies have begun further investigations, and the operation is still ongoing,” the army said in its statement.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Gaziur Rahman added that more details would be shared with the media once the operation concludes.