Even after seizing 1,335 looted items, many weapons are yet to be recovered

Over the past year, incidents of violent crime involving illegal firearms have surged across the country, raising serious concerns about public safety and law enforcement preparedness. Police reports indicate that during this period, more than 250 individuals from various professions and social backgrounds were shot, resulting in over 100 fatalities. Many of these violent acts involved firearms looted from police stations during the mass protests in July, according to law enforcement sources.

Authorities report that a total of 5,753 firearms were stolen from police stations, outposts, and other law enforcement facilities nationwide during the unrest. Among these were 32 high-powered weapons belonging to the Special Security Force (SSF) looted from the Prime Minister’s office. While law enforcement operations have recovered a significant portion of these arms, 1,335 firearms remain unaccounted for, along with 257,189 rounds of ammunition.

The use of these looted firearms has already contributed to high-profile violent incidents. On 12 December, Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, was fatally shot, sparking national outrage. Additional reports indicate numerous political activists have also been targeted and killed in similar attacks. Just recently, unidentified assailants fired on the residence of a prominent businessman in Chattogram’s Chawk Bazar area, reportedly due to non-payment of extortion demands.

Intelligence agencies warn that, ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election, various types of illegal weapons are being smuggled into the country via multiple border points. The uncollected stolen firearms have reportedly fallen into the hands of criminal networks, who are using them for murders, robberies, extortion, and territorial control. Teenage gangs and other criminal elements in areas such as Mirpur, Mohammadpur, and Jatrabari in Dhaka are now believed to possess a significant number of these weapons.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs, confirmed that efforts are underway to recover looted firearms and prevent illegal arms flow ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections. The Inspector General of Police, Baharul Alam, has instructed officers nationwide to intensify field-level operations to retrieve stolen weapons and ensure public safety.

A detailed overview of stolen and recovered firearms is provided below:

Law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have intensified operations to intercept smuggled arms. In the last year alone, RAB recovered 484 firearms, while BGB seized 64 weapons and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition along with grenades and explosives from border regions, including Teknaf, Ukhiya, Naikhongchhari, and Rajshahi.

Experts warn that failure to recover these weapons before the election could escalate political violence and undermine public security. Analysts stress that swift action is essential to prevent stolen firearms from further destabilising society.