Summary:
- Over 1,400 firearms and 263,000 rounds of ammunition looted from police stations during August protests in Bangladesh remain missing, many now used in crimes.
- Recent crimes, including a murder in Munshiganj and violence in Dhaka’s Geneva Camp, involved looted police weapons.
- Authorities have recovered some stolen arms but face challenges as 700 escaped prisoners, including dangerous criminals, are still at large.
- Experts warn that unaccounted weapons pose severe risks to public safety and call for intensified recovery efforts by law enforcement.
Thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition looted from police stations during the political upheaval in Bangladesh remain unaccounted for, raising significant concerns about public safety and law enforcement. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024, widespread protests led to the storming of police stations, resulting in the theft of over 5,800 firearms and more than 600,000 rounds of ammunition. Despite ongoing recovery efforts, a substantial portion remains missing, with many of these weapons reportedly being used in criminal activities.
The looted arsenal includes rifles, pistols, shotguns, and specialized equipment such as tear gas launchers and stun grenades. As of December 3, 2024, authorities have recovered approximately 4,331 firearms and over 388,000 rounds of ammunition. However, 1,419 firearms and 263,153 rounds of ammunition are still at large. This situation has heightened fears among law enforcement and the public alike.
Recent incidents highlight the dangers posed by these missing weapons. In Munshiganj district last week, a young woman was killed using a pistol looted from Dhaka’s Wari Police Station. The suspect confessed to hiding the weapon after the August unrest and later using it in the crime. Similarly, in October and November, violence in Dhaka’s Geneva Camp reportedly involved looted firearms. These cases underscore how stolen arms have fallen into the hands of criminals and extremist groups.
The crisis stems from the mass protests that erupted earlier this year. Student-led demonstrations against alleged government corruption escalated into nationwide unrest. Protesters stormed police stations across the country, seizing weapons and ammunition while vandalizing facilities. The chaos forced many police officers to abandon their posts temporarily.
Efforts to recover the stolen arms began with a joint operation on September 4 involving multiple security forces, including the army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Despite some progress, authorities face challenges due to the scale of the thefts and their distribution among various criminal networks. Police officials have expressed concern about the potential for these weapons to exacerbate crime rates and undermine public safety.
In addition to recovering stolen arms, authorities are also pursuing individuals who escaped from prisons during the unrest. Around 2,200 inmates fled custody during the protests; while 1,500 have been recaptured, 700 remain at large. Among them are high-profile criminals and extremists who pose significant risks to national security.
Experts have called for intensified recovery efforts to address this alarming situation. Muhammad Umar Faruq, a criminology professor at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, emphasized that failing to retrieve these weapons could lead to further deterioration in law enforcement capabilities. He urged authorities to enhance intelligence operations and conduct targeted searches to locate both stolen arms and fugitive criminals.
The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has pledged to restore stability following months of turmoil. However, with thousands of weapons still unaccounted for and public confidence shaken by recent events, Bangladesh faces an uphill battle to ensure safety and order in the wake of this unprecedented crisis.
Source: Prothomalo
