The collection of small and large firearms is increasing across the country which causing murders often in different parts of the country including the capital.

Former general secretary of District Jubo League Abdullah Al Noman and former organizing secretary of District Chhatra League Rakib Imam were going to Poddar Bazaar of Laxmipur Sadar Upazila on a motorcycle last Tuesday night.

On March 16, in the afternoon of Ferajikanda area of ​​Narayanganj port, members of the Honda gang led by local Piza Shamim went to capture the market by firing blank bullets in a filmy style. The locals were terrified of such an incident in broad daylight.

Allegedly, the police were informed but they did not come forward. The miscreants' mission lasted for about 20 minutes. Land owner Moinul Haque Parvez (42) was shot by miscreants when he came to stop them. Parvez's wife Suma Akhter (30) and old mother Mafuza Begum (58) were seriously injured by sharp weapons. Later Parvez died on April 4 after 19 days under treatment.

Earlier on the morning of February 25, miscreants shot at Shibpur upazila chairman Awami League's former president Harunur Rashid Khan's house on market road in Shibpur town area of ​​Narsingdi. Two bullets pierced his back. As he fell to the ground, the miscreants fled.

These are just three incidents. Such incidents are often happening in various parts of the country including the capital. On the evening of April 22, a person named Julhas Mia was shot dead after he was prevented from killing cocktails in Char area of ​​Raipura, Narsingdi. Three others were shot.

Apart from this, miscreants shot and killed a man named Milan Fakir (45) publicly on the street in Fultala, Khulna at around 8 am on January 30. Milan, who was shot, ran into a local shop but did not survive. The miscreants entered there and shot him in the upper body again, confirmed his death and escaped unhurt on a motorcycle.

Those concerned said, even members of the law enforcement agencies are embarrassed by the political identity of the armed miscreants. These influential people are collecting illegal weapons from their followers to maintain their positions. Apart from political violence, professional terrorists are using these weapons. Recent events have rethought top brass in law enforcement.

Statistics from human rights organization Law and Arbitration Center (ASAC) show that there were 20 incidents of political conflict in January, including internal conflicts among political parties. Two were killed and 210 injured. Most incidents of violence involved gunfire.

Professional killers are collecting small and large firearms targeting the National Assembly elections this year. Arms dealers are delivering weapons to them in various ways. Especially for upcoming national elections and city corporation elections, some influential people are collecting weapons through their sponsored terrorists. Many people are renting these weapons.

Speaking to the intelligence officers, it is said that there is no way to stop the entry of illegal weapons. Seven point six five and nine mm pistols are entering more through Chapainawabganj border. And the point-to-point bore revolver is coming using the Kanighat border in Sylhet. Various types of weapons are entering the country through Comilla, Benapole and Hili borders of Jessore.

Besides, small and big weapons are entering Dedar through the mountainous area of ​​Rangamati.

On April 14 last year, the district police found an arms factory while investigating a shooting incident at Kahalu in Bogura. Nilu Chandra Pramanik and his son Sanjit Chandra Pramanik were arrested along with the recovery of at least five single-barreled gun making tools including gun barrel, iron recoiling spring, firing pin, trigger. Even on remand, the police could not get much information from them. According to the investigators, they have supplied weapons to different areas of the country including Bogura.

According to police headquarters statistics, in 2022, 5 thousand 879 illegal weapons were recovered across the country. 1 thousand 540 cases have been registered in these incidents. According to the statistics of RAB headquarters, in 2022, 602 people were arrested with 1 thousand 371 illegal weapons in 692 raids across the country.

During this time, 63 magazines, 5 thousand 824 rounds and 41 thousand 881 explosives were recovered.

In these incidents, 450 cases have been registered in the concerned police stations. 138 weapons, 34 magazines and 229 rounds were recovered in 70 operations from the beginning of this year till March 31. There have been 77 cases. According to BGB statistics, 43 pistols, 5 revolvers, 79 firearms, 29 magazines and 5 thousand 357 bullets were recovered in 2022. Till March 5 this year, two rifles, six pistols, 27 firearms, five magazines and 189 bullets were recovered.

Several sources said that weapons are entering the country through the border gap before the national elections. In this situation, the law enforcement forces want to pull the reins now. Following this, it has been decided to conduct block raids in the border districts where firearms are smuggled. Sixty-six operations to recover weapons have already started this week in view of Paola Baisakh.

Md Haider Ali Khan, Additional DIG of Police Headquarters told Bangladesh Pratidin, “In fact, the recovery of illegal weapons is a routine task of the police. It is always running. However, the special operations are based on special special days, which started on Paila Baisakh.”

According to multiple sources, a police intelligence agency has given a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs expressing concern about illegal firearms.

According to the report prepared by the Special Branch (SB), shooting incidents in the country exceeded 150 in December and January. On an average, more than five people are shot every day. It was decided in a high-level meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs to pay special attention to 20 important districts in the recovery operation of illegal weapons.

The law and order cabinet meeting on February 19 decided that illegal arms should be reined in by a sustained operation before political unrest spreads. The forces were also instructed to prepare accordingly. Coordinated operations will be carried out if necessary before the elections.

Sources also said that according to the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it has been decided to conduct block raids in 32 border districts. Among these border districts, 30 are with India and two are with Myanmar. There will be strict vigilance in 20 districts, especially Dhaka, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Gazipur, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Bogura, Pabna, Rajshahi, Kurigram, Kushtia, Khulna, Patuakhali, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Magura and Barguna.

Col Md Kamrul Hasan, additional director general (operations) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) tol Bangladesh Pratidin, “Among the recent murders, the use of firearms is not very high. However, we are very serious about illegal weapons. All the battalions have been instructed in this regard as part of the Eid-centric preparations for the first Baisakh.”

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on April 27, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.