Anti-Discrimination Student Activists Loot Weapons From Police Station to Oust Awami League Government, No Progress in Recovery

Staff Correspondent

Last year, anti-discrimination student (BAI) activists carried out coordinated attacks and looting on more than 460 police stations and police outposts across the country to topple the Awami League government. After killing police officers, the police stations were destroyed and weapons and ammunition were looted. In addition to the police, weapons of various law enforcement agencies were looted. They even looted a large number of sophisticated weapons and security equipment of the Special Security Force (SSF). Government officials have also stated that the weapons they used in the movement and carried out sabotage were not in the hands of the government forces. But there is no news about the recovery of these weapons.

Multiple sources have confirmed that these looted weapons and bullets are now being used in robberies, dacoities and mob violence in different parts of the country. Law enforcement agencies fear that these weapons could be used in political violence and terrorist activities surrounding the upcoming national elections, which will seriously affect the electoral environment.

According to sources from the Police Headquarters and the Home Ministry, 4,410 firearms and 3,94,349 rounds of ammunition have been recovered so far. However, 1,353 firearms and 2,57,659 rounds of ammunition are yet to be found. According to security analysts, this is a serious security threat to the country.

Dhaka University social security analyst Dr. Md. Touhidul Haque said, “The large number of looted weapons that have not yet been recovered is very worrying for the law and order situation in the country. If these are used during the national elections, it could create terrible violence.”

Police and intelligence agencies said that an ‘intelligence-based’ operation is being conducted to recover weapons and to encourage the public, rewards have also been announced for the recovery of weapons. A reward of Tk 50,000 has been announced for the recovery of shotguns or pistols, Tk 1 lakh for the recovery of Chinese rifles and SMGs and Tk 5 lakh for LMGs. A reward of Tk 500 has also been announced for each round of bullets.

Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that all forces, including the army, navy and air force, are ready in view of the upcoming elections. Efforts are underway to recover weapons and it is expected that most of the weapons will be recovered before the elections. In addition, surveillance has been strengthened to ensure that no weapons enter from outside the country.

However, the reality is that the violence organized in the name of the movement has caused irreparable damage to state resources and has also created a deep rift in the country’s security system. The common people are in panic as a large number of weapons have ended up in the hands of these groups who took to the streets under the guise of students. Especially with the elections approaching, the situation could become more complicated if these weapons are used amid political rivalry and tension.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) officials say they are making every effort to recover the weapons, but it is not yet possible to say for sure that these weapons will not pose any risk during the elections.