Four Apprehended in Chittagong Following Firearms Seizures

The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) have apprehended four individuals and recovered a significant cache of illicit weaponry, including foreign-manufactured pistols and ammunition, during a series of coordinated operations across the city. The details of the arrests and subsequent seizures were disclosed during a formal press briefing held at the Dampara Police Lines on Thursday, 30 April 2026.

The suspects have been identified as Md Hasan, 28, son of Md Jafar Ahmad from Farhadabad Union in Hathazari; Nur Uddin Shohel, 30, son of Nurul Hossain from South Kanchana village in Satkania; Tapas Palit (also known as Shimul), 51, son of the late Santosh Palit from Dhalghat Union in Patiya; and Deepak Kanti Dey, 58, son of the late Noni Gopal Kanti Dey from Bhujpur in Fatikchhari.

Details of the Firearms and Equipment Seized

During the raids, law enforcement officers recovered an extensive array of prohibited items. The official inventory of the seized contraband includes:

• Two foreign-made pistols and two accompanying magazines.

• Two shotguns and one single-barrel gun.

• Three recoiling sprays, typically used as non-lethal deterrents or for tactical purposes.

• Fifty rounds of ammunition, comprising 28 pistol bullets, 20 other assorted rounds, and two China rifle bullets.

• Four large knives (locally known as chapatti).

• Weapon-manufacturing tools and components used for the maintenance or assembly of firearms.

Chronology of the Operations

The enforcement actions commenced in the early hours of Wednesday, 29 April 2026. Acting on precise intelligence, police units first conducted a raid in the Oxygen Mor area, resulting in the arrest of Nur Uddin Shohel. At the time of his apprehension, Shohel was found to be in possession of a foreign-made pistol and a magazine.

Following the interrogation of the first suspect, police obtained information that led them to the Cheragi Pahar area under the jurisdiction of the Kotwali Police Station. Officers raided the residence of Tapas Palit, where ten rounds of pistol ammunition were recovered from his bedroom.

On the same day, a secondary phase of the operation was executed in the Wajedia area. This led to the arrest of Deepak Kanti Dey. Upon searching the suspect, officers recovered another foreign-made pistol, one magazine, eighteen rounds of pistol ammunition, and two bullets specifically designed for China rifles.

In a concurrent but separate intervention, the police targeted the Dreamland Residential Area under the Bayezid Bostami Police Station, where Md Hasan was taken into custody. Subsequent to his arrest, Hasan provided information that directed officers to his residence in Hathazari. A thorough search of the premises yielded three additional firearms and twenty rounds of ammunition.

Criminal Records and Investigative Findings

Amirul Islam, the Deputy Commissioner of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (North Zone), stated during the briefing that the suspects are believed to have been involved in the illicit arms trade for an extended period. He noted that the group reportedly procured these illegal weapons from border regions to supply various criminal elements within the city. None of the arrested individuals could produce any legal documentation or valid licences for the weaponry in their possession.

Regarding the background of the suspects, police records indicate that Md Hasan is a repeat offender with at least five existing criminal cases filed against him at the Bayezid Bostami Police Station.

Abdul Karim, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Bayezid Bostami Police Station, confirmed that formal charges have been initiated against the four men under the Arms Act. Following the completion of preliminary administrative formalities, the suspects were produced before a Chittagong court. The police have indicated that intelligence-driven operations will continue to identify and dismantle the networks responsible for the trafficking of illegal firearms in the metropolitan area.