Clicky
National, Front Page

1885 arms, 300,000 ammo yet to be recovered

Joint drive continues


Published : 07 Sep 2024 09:54 PM

Joint forces are still conducting drives to recover some 1885 weapons and 300,000 rounds of ammunition, looted from various police stations and outposts. 

As of Saturday, the joint forces have recovered 53 weapons since the recovery operation began on September 4. The weapons include both looted and licensed firearms.

According to the Police Headquarters (PHQ), a total of 5,818 weapons were looted nationwide, including in Dhaka.

As of September 5, a total of 3,933 weapons have been recovered. 

However, 1,885 weapons, including rifles, SMGs, LMGs, and pistols, remain unrecovered. Additionally, nearly 300,000 rounds of looted ammunition are still missing.

Weapons not yet recovered -- 839 Chinese rifles were recovered, 296 were not recovered. Nine Bangladeshi rifles were recovered; 1 was not recovered. 191 SMGs were recovered, and 60 were not recovered. 21 LMG recovered, 11 not recovered. 731 pistols were recovered, but 825 were not recovered.

SMG/SMT 9x19 mm recovered 32, 1 not recovered. 1624 shotguns were recovered, 67 were not recovered. 476 gas guns were recovered, 117 were not recovered. Tear gas launcher (six shot) recovered 9, unrecovered 5 and signal pistol recovered 1, unrecovered 2.

Ammunition not yet recovered – 3,12,857 bullets of different bores were recovered, 2,94,405 were not recovered. Some 23,194 teargas shells were recovered, 8,811 were not recovered. 

As many as 704 tear gas grenades were recovered, 751 were not recovered. 2,128 sound grenades were recovered, 2,564 could not be recovered.

Colour smoke grenades recovered 213, 78 not recovered. Some 18 multiple bang stun grenades were recovered while some 37 were not recovered. 

As many as 533 flash bang grenades were recovered, 360 were not recovered. Hand Held tear gas spray (canister) recovered 94, could not recover 83.

The ongoing joint operation involves the Bangladesh Army, Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar, Coast Guard, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to a student and public uprising, protesters across the country set fire to and attacked various police stations. During these attacks, weapons and ammunition were looted from police stations and outposts.

September 3 was the deadline for returning the looted weapons and ammunition. Since September 4, joint forces have been actively working to recover the looted and illegal arms.