Armed with instructions from the caretaker government, the law enforcement agencies launched a special drive in the early hours of yesterday to net criminals and find illegal arms.

Quoting a source the UNB news agency reported that the operation by police, the para-military BDR and Ansar forces was already under way, but the formal launch began minutes after midnight on Tuesday.

Justice Latifur Rahman, Chief Adviser of the Caretaker government on Tuesday held a meeting with the top officials of the law enforcement agencies mapping out the mopping-up operation against illegal arms and armed terrorists.

Soon after taking over as chief adviser of the caretaker government for arranging new national elections, Justice Latifur Rahman told nation that he has no option but to nab criminals and recover illegal arms for the sake of holding free and fair polls. Police sources said mainly the police would lead the countrywide special drive while the BDR would remain on stand-by for any exigencies.

Earlier, at the fag-end of Awami League government, a month-long police drive was conducted from May 27 to June 27. Then police arrested a total of 53,610 people and netted 1,152 illegal arms from across the country. The then opposition, led by BNP, opposed the drive alleging that it was not impartial.

An estimated 200,000 plus illegal small arms are there in the country that may disrupt the environment of free and fair election. However, police sources said they started their drive across the country reviewing the criminals' list, which was prepared earlier during the AL rule. "We are hopeful about making the drive a success as we are beginning our drive without any pressure," said a police official.

Meanwhile, the new administration already has changed the Home Secretary but was yet to reshuffle the police administration. Concerned sources said shortly there would be a major reshuffle of police administration.

The Chief Adviser himself holds the Home Ministry, apart from several other portfolios, apparently aiming to smoothly deal with law-and-order situation on top priority.

According to sources, some districts, including Feni, Laxmipur, Narayanganj and Sirajganj, have been identified as more vulnerable and special instructions were sent to the previous two caretaker administrations also conducted special drives against the underworld of arms, armed terrorists and criminals before the 1991 and 1996 general elections.

With parliamentary elections in just a few weeks away, Awami League is in a tight spot with allegations that Deputy Speaker Ali Ashraf misused his office for electioneering.

In a complaint to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) M A Syed , the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) alleged that the deputy speaker had utilised the services of the police and civil administration for electioneering.