82 individuals, including beggars, vagrants, and drug addicts, were apprehended by the police on Saturday in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area as part of a campaign to prevent inconveniences for passengers, including expatriates.

“The Airport Police Station carried out a predawn drive and arrested them for being troublemakers," the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said in a statement.

It said the drive was conducted from around 5:00 am at the airport roundabout, BRTA station, airport railway station, airport entrance, VVIP and VIP roads, and surrounding areas.

According to the statement, those arrested were 58 drug-addicted street urchins and 24 people involved in other crimes during the drive.

It said airport police would not allow vagrants, beggars, and drug addicts to stay in the area under any circumstances and are currently intensifying vigils like regular patrols.

The DMP said legal steps were underway under the Children Act, 2013, through the 'Child Affairs Police Officer' to treat the detained children.

Source: BSS