Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a drive arrested 290 people from different parts of the country including Dhaka in connection with the nationwide unrest.

Senior Assistant Director ASP ANM Imran Khan of RAB's Law and Media Wing said the drive was conducted till Saturday morning.

During the drive, 71 people were arrested from Dhaka while the rest were from outside Dhaka, he said.

On Friday, RAB denied allegations of firing from helicopters on aerial patrols during the recent quota reform protests.

In a press release issued on Thursday, RAB reiterated that no firearms had been used from its helicopters.

“To disperse those creating obstacles and to facilitate the movement of law enforcement personnel quickly to prevent damage and destruction, tear gas and sound grenades were deployed from RAB helicopters. No gunfire or use of firearms took place.”

RAB mentioned that during incidents of violence and sabotage, attackers had used young children as human shields to block roads. “Law enforcement, aiming to prevent destruction, faced obstructions upon arriving at the scene. With children at the forefront, law enforcement agencies refrained from using maximum force," the elite police unit added.