Police on Monday arrested 40 beggars and vagrants in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

The Airport Police Station conducted the drive at the airport roundabout, BRTA station, Airport Railway Station, areas around police boxes, airport entrances and VIP Road, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Niaz Mehedi.

Police said the presence of beggars and vagrants in the airport area had long been causing inconvenience to local and foreign passengers.

Of those arrested, 15 were children, two were women and 23 were adult men.

Police said steps were being taken to send the children to the Training and Rehabilitation Centre for the Vagrant in Mirpur, while the adults will be produced before a special court.

Airport police said around 288 more beggars and vagrants had been arrested in similar drives over the past several days.

With Monday’s arrests, the total number of people arrested so far stands at 328, police said.

Police said the detained children were sent to the Training and Rehabilitation Centre for the Vagrant in Mirpur, while the adults were sent to jail through the special court process.

The drives will continue to ensure the smooth movement of passengers and overall security in and around the airport area, police said.