After the July Revolution, around 460 police stations across the country were targeted, vandalized, set on fire, and plundered. Criminals also raided 114 police outposts. Along with crucial government documents, state weapons were taken. Some of these stolen weapons have been kept by individuals, while others have been sold.
The firearms have been exchanged once again and distributed to different criminals, including extremists, radicalized individuals, convicted offenders, terrorists, escaped prisoners, and juvenile gangs throughout the country.
According to multiple police officials, a large share of the looted weapons is now in the hands of juvenile gangs. The individuals arrested for possessing these weapons are between the ages of 16 and 30. These weapons may be used in future robberies, killings, and could lead to significant instability.
Experts believe that numerous escaped prisoners have resumed their criminal behavior, with many acquiring weapons. In particular, prominent terrorists, militants, and extremists are purchasing these looted firearms. As a result, the safety risk to the general public has reached a critical level.
According to the police headquarters, a total of 5,750 weapons of various types were looted from police stations and outposts nationwide after August 5. Of these, 4,351 weapons have been recovered. Additionally, 651,609 rounds of ammunition were looted, of which 389,439 rounds have been recovered. This leaves 1,399 weapons and 262,170 rounds of ammunition still missing. Among the looted weapons include SMGs, LMGs, and various types of rifles, pistols, shotguns, gas guns, as well as tear gas launchers, tear gas shells, tear gas sprays, sound grenades, and ammunition of various calibers.
The police have stated that several killings and other unpleasant incidents occurred in the Geneva Camp of Mohammadpur in October-November of last year, using the misappropriated arms.
In November of the same year, the bullet-ridden body of Shahida Islam, the daughter of the late Motaleb from Mymensingh's Kotwali, was found on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway. She had been living in a rented house in Wari, Old Dhaka, with her mother and brother. Her lover, Touhid Sheikh Tanmay, was arrested in connection with the incident. It was later revealed that the arm used to murder Shahida was one of the looted police firearms.
According to sources at RAB headquarters, by December of last year, RAB had recovered 484 firearms. Of these, 90 were from the looted RAB inventory, 228 were from the police's looted stock, and 166 were illegal firearms. In terms of ammunition, RAB recovered 7,303 rounds from RAB’s looted supplies, 11,941 rounds from the police's stolen ammunition, and 1,280 rounds of illegal ammunition.
A total of 93 individuals have been arrested in connection with cases related to the recovery of arms.
Sources from the prisons reveal that 2,200 prisoners from various levels have escaped from jail. Of these, 1,500 have been arrested. However, 700 inmates are still on the run.
Dr. Touhidul Haque, a professor at Dhaka University and crime analyst, told Bangladesh Pratidin that the security threat continues if the seized firearms are not recovered.
He added “While we do not have a complete tally of how many weapons have been retrieved, the police figures are based on estimates. It’s difficult to get an accurate count when items are looted through acts like arson and attacks.”
Professor further added, “The more pressing issue is recovering the arms that the police have documented. It cannot be said that the number of recovered weapons in five months is satisfactory. We had heard promises about identifying those responsible for looting the weapons, but even after five months, the concern persists. As long as these weapons remain in the hands of criminals or terrorists, they will be used whenever the opportunity arises.”
Sources reveal that in January and February of 2025, the police conducted two operations in Chittagong city, arresting six individuals with weapons and ammunition. During questioning, they learned that the looted weapons and ammunition came from the Double Mooring police station in Chittagong. On August 29, 2024, a businessman named Anis was shot dead in the Bayazid Bostami area. Police recovered five bullet casings and a weapon-carrying bag as evidence from the crime scene. The police mentioned that the recovered bullet casings were marked with the word "police."
On November 14 of 2024, acting on secret information, Coast Guard members conducted a raid in the Mohammad Shah Ghona area of Kalarmarhat Union in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, and arrested a man named Ziaur Rahman with a pistol. During questioning, Ziaur told the police that he was a gang leader. He had previously surrendered with weapons, but after looting a pistol from a police facility in Chittagong, he resumed his criminal activities. The police stated that Ziaur, who had surrendered and given up his weapons five years ago, has returned to crime. He is facing at least 14 cases, including five murders.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
