Staff Correspondent:

A significant number of firearms and ammunition stolen from police facilities following the unrest on August 5 last year remain unaccounted for, raising serious concerns about public safety and electoral security.

Latest figures reveal that 1,363 weapons and 257,720 rounds of ammunition have yet to be recovered. Law enforcement agencies fear these arms could be used to incite violence and destabilise the country in the run-up to the upcoming national elections.

The government has introduced a reward scheme for informants to assist in recovering the stolen weapons, but so far with limited success. Over the past year, several special operations, including Devil Hunt, have been launched to retrieve illegal arms. Despite ongoing efforts, a substantial portion of the looted weapons remain in the hands of criminal networks.

Security analysts and officials warn that the failure to recover these weapons poses a major threat to the integrity of the forthcoming general election.

Influential individuals may exploit illegal firearms to manipulate electoral outcomes, while extremist groups could use them to orchestrate sabotage, incite conflict, or carry out acts of violence—potentially undermining the entire voting process.

Preparations are currently under way for the 13th parliamentary elections, scheduled for February next year. The Election Commission has initiated various measures to ensure the polls are free, fair, and impartial.

However, there are growing fears that the unrecovered weapons could be used by anti-state elements to intimidate voters, pressure authorities, and disrupt law and order during the election period. Experts believe these arms could significantly impact the political landscape and electoral environment.

WEAPONS HAVE CHANGED HANDS MULTIPLE TIMES

Intelligence sources indicate that many of the stolen weapons have changed hands numerous times, making recovery increasingly difficult.

They are now believed to be in the possession of armed criminals and possibly terrorist groups. Although operations are ongoing to trace and retrieve the arms, progress has been slow and challenging.

EXTENT OF THE LOOTING AND RECOVERY EFFORTS

According to Police Headquarters, in the aftermath of the August 5 upheaval, a total of 460 out of 664 police stations and 114 outposts across the country were attacked, vandalised, set on fire, or looted. Additionally, 5,753 weapons belonging to the Special Security Force (SSF) were stolen from Ganabhaban, along with 651,832 rounds of ammunition.

To date, 4,390 of the looted weapons have been recovered, leaving 1,363 still missing.

Of the 651,832 rounds of ammunition taken, 394,112 have been retrieved, meaning 257,720 remain unaccounted for.

BREAKDOWN OF THE RECOVERED WEAPONS

A breakdown of the recovered weapons shows that out of 1,106 looted Chinese rifles, 991 have been recovered, leaving 115 still missing, while 11 out of 12 of another rifle model have been retrieved, with one unaccounted for. Of the 251 SMG (T-56) weapons taken, 221 have been recovered (30 missing), and 31 out of 34 LMG (T-56) have been found (3 missing). In the case of pistols, 325 out of 539 T-54 pistols have been recovered (214 missing), and 630 out of 1,092 other pistols have been retrieved (462 missing). All 33 of the 9mm SMG/SMT weapons have been recovered, while 1,675 out of 2,079 12-bore shotguns have been returned (404 missing). Additionally, 458 out of 589 38mm gas guns have been recovered (131 missing), and 8 out of 15 38mm tear gas launchers have been found (7 missing).

Only one of the three 26mm pistols has been recovered, leaving two still at large.

Regarding ammunition, 394,112 rounds have been recovered out of 612,982 looted (257,720 missing). Of other non-lethal equipment, 19,821 tear gas shells have been recovered out of 31,212, 1,195 tear gas grenades out of 1,486, 3,574 sound grenades out of 4,746, 232 coloured smoke grenades out of 273, 33 seven-multiple bang stun grenades out of 55, and 616 flash bang/6 grenades out of 900. Alarmingly, only 62 handheld tear gas sprays have been recovered out of a total of 178.

MURDERS AND EXTORTION LINKED TO ILLEGAL ARMS

On 25 May this year, at around 11 pm, Kamrul Ahsan Sadhan, joint convener of the Gulshan Thana unit of the BNP, was shot dead in front of friends in Badda’s Gudaraghat area. Two days later, on 27 May, armed miscreants robbed a money exchange trader of Tk 21 lakh in Mirpur. On 6 August, Shahen Shah, a young man, was fatally shot at the Mohammadpur Geneva Camp.

While it remains unclear which specific weapons were used in these attacks, investigators have not ruled out the possibility that some were among those looted from police stocks.

Illegal weapons are not confined to Dhaka; they are increasingly prevalent across the country. On 20 August, a group of armed youths opened fire on a businessman’s home in Hathazari, Chittagong, after he refused to pay a Tk 50 lakh extortion demand. CCTV footage captured the attack, highlighting the brazen nature of such crimes.

Detective agencies have gathered intelligence suggesting that looted weapons were used in several recent murders and high-profile robberies in Dhaka and Chittagong. There are allegations that despite knowing the identities of those in possession of the arms and their smuggling routes, adequate operations have not been conducted. This perceived inaction has emboldened criminals and heightened public anxiety.

ELECTION-TIME SURGE IN ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE

Historically, demand for illegal weapons spikes around election periods. Using firearms to assert dominance at the local level, control polling stations, and intimidate political rivals is a well-documented tactic. Intelligence sources now report signs of a revived underground “arms market” ahead of the upcoming polls. If looted weapons are funneled into this network, the risk of widespread violence could multiply.

On 10 August, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that the government would soon issue a formal notification calling for the return of weapons looted before and after 5 August during the mass student and public uprising. Informants providing credible information leading to recovery will be rewarded.

EXPERT WARNINGS: TIME RUNS OUT

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Nurul Huda warned: “The looted weapons could significantly affect the next election. These arms are not lying idle – they’ve changed hands multiple times and may already be in the possession of terrorists. There is still time, but urgent action is needed to recover them.”

RECOVERY EFFORTS STILL FALLING SHORT

Dr Touhidul Haque, a criminology expert and associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, Dhaka University, told Journalist “Despite government efforts, the recovery of looted weapons has been inadequate. These arms pose a serious threat to law and order, especially with national elections approaching. There is a high risk they will be used to influence or disrupt the electoral process.”

He added: “We’ve already seen an increase in extortion, robbery, and arms trafficking. These weapons are actively being used in criminal activities. The police must launch intensive combing operations immediately to recover them otherwise, the law and order situation could deteriorate further.”

RAB CLAIMS RECOVERY EFFORTS ACCELERATING

Major Mohammad Nazmullahel Wadud, Deputy Commander of RAB-2, acknowledged the challenges: “The police force faced unprecedented difficulties over the past year. On 5 August last year, officers fled their stations under attack, and their firearms were looted. While some weapons have been recovered, many remain missing. These arms have circulated through multiple hands, complicating recovery efforts.”

He noted that certain groups are attempting to exploit the situation ahead of the elections, but stressed that operations to retrieve the weapons are continuing, despite the difficulties.

POLICE REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO RECOVERY

AHM Shahadat Hossain, Additional Inspector General (Media and PR) at Police Headquarters, told Journalist “Ongoing operations are being conducted by the police and joint forces to combat terrorism and maintain law and order. Our nationwide campaign to recover illegal weapons continues. We have already retrieved a significant number of looted arms, and efforts to recover the remainder are underway with full determination.”

As the election approaches, the unresolved issue of missing weapons remains a critical challenge – one that could shape not only the security landscape but also the credibility of the democratic process itself.