A large number of arms and ammunition were looted from the police stations and other protected zones across the country before and after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5. During recent movement, a total of 450 police stations out of 639 in the country came under attacks. A huge number of arms and bullets were looted from the police stations during the period. Some of the looted firearms and ammunition have already been recovered. According to a report run by Bangladesh Post on September 2, law enforcement agencies with support from Bangladesh Army have recovered a total of 3,872 arms, around 2.86 lakh bullets, 2,221 teargas canisters and 2,139 sound grenades as of August 31. A good number of looted arms and ammunition still remain unrecovered.
After the formation of an interim government headed by Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, the authorities concerned are urging people to surrender looted weapons. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs in a notification said that all arms and ammunition must be deposited with police stations concerned by Tuesday (September 3).
On the other hand, the interim government announced that all legal firearms and ammunition issued in the last 15 years will be considered illegal if licence holders do not surrender them by Tuesday (September 3). The government asked the people who got arms licences during the period between January 6, 2009 and August 5, 2024 to deposit the weapons to nearby police stations. To date, there are some reports on surrender of licensed weapons in some parts of the country, but the rate is very low.
In the changed political situation, licensed
firearms which are in the hands of civilians
pose a serious threat to public security. The
weapons looted from police stations increase
public safety risks. There is no alternative but
to recover the firearms in the interest of the country.
According to the Bangladesh Post’s report, there are currently around 50,000 legally registered firearms in the country. Among them, over 10,000 weapons are in the hands of political party leaders and activists, the majority of whom are members of the Awami League and its front bodies.
Many of these individuals received their firearm licences since 2009 until August 5, 2024.
It is now very important to recover looted or licensed firearms which have not been deposited yet. There is nothing new to say about illegal use of looted weapons. On the other hand, the government has ordered the submission of licensed weapons considering various aspects. These weapons have been licensed mainly by the leaders and activists of Awami League and its front bodies as well as the people associated with the Awami League. After the fall of Hasina, fears grow that illegal use of these weapons may increase and create unrest in the country.
We had witnessed illicit use of licensed arms by some leaders of the Awami League and its front organisations. The firearms, whose licences were issued only for self-defence, were brandished during political programmes. The firearms were also used by the Awami League men during the student-mass movement.
Many people, including students, were killed by the Awami League men at that time. In the changed political situation, licensed firearms which are in the hands of civilians pose a serious threat to public security. On the other hand, weapons looted from police stations increase public safety risks in the country. So, there is no alternative but to recover the firearms in the interest of the country.
Against this backdrop, the government has decided to conduct a joint operation, comprising armed forces, BGB, Coast Guard, Police, RAB and Ansar, across the country from tomorrow (September 4) to recover illegal firearms. We welcome the government’s move. Such a joint operation is an imperative for recovering firearms.
