Rajshahi Correspondent:

Bangladesh Army recovered arms and explosives-making materials, and arrested three people during a raid at a coaching centre in Rajshahi city on Saturday morning (August 16), according to a press release issued by the army.

Army reported recovering three firearms and ammunition, a military-grade binocular and sniper scope, six local weapons, seven foreign sharp daggers, five high-quality walkie-talkie sets, a military-grade GPS, a taser gun, various local and foreign cartridges, a large number of unused SIM cards, bomb-making equipment, six computer sets, Tk7,445 in cash, and various local and foreign alcohol.

They also recovered 11 nitrogen cartridges, which were later neutralised by the Bomb Disposal Unit as they were live explosive materials.

The coaching centre’s owner, Muntasirul Alam Anindya and two others, identified as Md Robin and Md Faisal, were also detained during the raid, said the media release.

When police transported Muntasirul Alam Anindya to Boalia Model Police Station in a police van around 3:45pm, he told reporters, “I am innocent. Forensic tests will prove it, and I will be released on bail.”

His cousin, Neela Zaman, also defended him, stating, “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 by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) over alleged links to the 2016 Holey Artisan attack in Dhaka.

The army said today’s raid followed one month of intelligence surveillance.

A Fire Service diving team was also deployed in a nearby pond to search for more suspected firearms.

The press release further stated, “The relevant intelligence agencies have started further investigations into the matter, and the operation is currently ongoing.”

Earlier at 1:50pm, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Gaziur Rahman said that details would be shared with the media once the operation concludes.