A total of 157 people were arrested today during a joint force operation in Tongi City Corporation area and Keranirtek slum near Tongi Railway Station.

Tongi East Police Station Officer-in-Charge Qaiser Ahmed confirmed the arrests to our correspondent in Gazipur.

They were arrested on charges of involvement in drug trade and criminal activities, including robbery, OC Qaiser said.

However, the names and identities of those arrested could not yet be confirmed.

At least 500 members of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Border Guards, Rapid Action Battalion and police participated in the operation.

The raid started around 3:00 am today.

During the drive led by Lt Col Mahbub, the joint forces recovered Tk 22 lakh in cash, two/three bhors of gold, 10 kilograms of marijuana, 2,500 yaba tablets, 20 bottles of liquor, 10 bottles of phensedyl and a large amount of sharp weapons.

Meanwhile, an ex-army man named Mizanur Rahman Milton, 50, died when he jumped from the roof of the second floor of the Javan Residential Hotel behind Tongi Railway Station at around 4:00am.

Later, the police recovered his body.

During the raid, joint forces made several arrests at the hotel on charges of anti-social activities and drugs.