80 Firearms and Other Goods Recovered After Strong Room Break-in

A daring theft took place at the strong room of the cargo house at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Police recovered 80 advanced firearms, a large number of magazines, and cartridges from the broken vault. 

After the theft, these items were secured by the police. Taking advantage of the fire damage to CCTV cameras and the lack of electricity, the criminals cut the strong room locks and looted the contents. However, the exact quantity of firearms and goods stolen has not yet been confirmed. The Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines submitted a letter explaining the incident to the ministry. The investigation committee has yet to submit a report determining the amount stolen.

The theft was reported on the morning of October 28. The Dhaka Airport Police and law enforcement agencies secured the area. On October 29, an inventory was conducted in front of the broken strong room with five witnesses. The police seizure list includes 67 advanced pistols, 12 shotguns, 1 assault rifle, 138 empty pistol magazines, 991 pieces of 9mm blank cartridges, and empty magazines for shotguns and rifles. Most firearms were intact, although a few pistols had minor damage to plastic butts, barrel springs, and magazines.

The strong room usually stores valuable items, urgent documents, gold, diamonds, firearms, and other high-value portable goods. Accessing these items requires multiple procedural steps and signatures from several officials.

Authorities suggest that a well-informed criminal network familiar with the airport and strong room operations carried out this theft. Biman Bangladesh Airlines stated in its letter that the vault inventory was completed on October 24 and locked with a seal. By the morning of October 28, the lock had been tampered with. Despite security guards, the import cargo area had no electricity, and CCTV cameras were inoperative.

The airline stated that on October 29, with the presence of various agencies, an inventory of the firearms in the strong room was conducted, after which the airport police took custody. The investigation committee is now verifying the complete inventory of goods.

Before the theft, Biman Bangladesh Airlines had requested the Dhaka Customs House Commissioner to take custody of the valuable items in the strong room. The letter emphasized that storing firearms and other valuable goods under customs protection would be appropriate.

Khaborwala/TSN