The spread of illegal firearms across Bangladesh is raising serious security concerns as the country prepares for the upcoming national parliamentary elections, with police warning of a rise in gun-related crimes nationwide.
Incidents involving both locally made and foreign firearms are being reported daily, ranging from targeted killings and extortion to robbery, tender manipulation and land grabbing. Law enforcement officials say the growing availability of illegal weapons is strengthening criminal dominance in several areas.
In such situation, many have applied for weapons licenses to protect their lives. Many have also received gunmen.
Those concerned said that if the illegal weapons held by criminals across the country, including the capital Dhaka, are not recovered, the law and order situation will be at risk. Many more people like Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Moncho, may fall under the target of weapons.
Multiple police sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has given strict instructions to emphasize this issue as the number of weapons recovered in the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 nationwide is low.
The Police Headquarters has also given instructions to recover illegal weapons by intensifying the 24-hour drive. Weapon recovery teams of all DB departments have been asked to be more active. Old armed terrorists and their associates are also being brought under surveillance.
Additional IGP Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said, “Illegal weapons recovery is a routine job of the police. After August 5 last year, many weapons of law enforcement forces and licensees have been looted. We have also received reports of weapons shipments coming through the border. The use of these illegal weapons is also increasing. Strict instructions have been given to all units to recover these weapons. Weapon recovery in Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 is not going as expected. In this case, it has been asked to increase the special drive.”
Additional Commissioner (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md. Shafiqul Islam said, “Special operations to recover illegal weapons have been intensified. Information is being collected on terrorists with old weapons and their associates. Everything necessary is being done to prevent terrorists from deteriorating the law and order situation. I hope the number of illegal weapons recovered will increase soon.”
Intelligence sources said that there are more than 450 registered armed criminals in 50 police stations in eight divisions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). These criminals and their associates have more than 1500 illegal weapons. The most weapons are in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Motijheel, Shyampur and Jatrabari areas. DB Police is going to launch operations by identifying these five areas as red zones.
Intelligence surveillance has been started on active terrorists in these areas. Criminals who pose a threat for target killings are being listed. As shooters from Mohammadpur, Demra and Chanpara in Rupganj have participated in various target killings, the police have also taken special plans around these areas.
Sources said that according to intelligence information, the DMP has the most weapons in Motijheel division, followed by Wari, Tejgaon, and Ramna divisions.
