With the 13th national parliamentary election imminent, illegal weapons continue to pose a serious threat to the electoral environment. Only two days remain before the election. Campaigning by candidates from various political parties, including independent candidates, has reached its peak across all constituencies. At the same time, supporters of the candidates are actively trying to exert influence in different ways in their respective areas.
As a result, conflicts are frequently breaking out over rivalries. Illegal weapons are being used, and incidents of killings are occurring. Meanwhile, the increased smuggling of illegal weapons through border routes has added further tension. These incidents have created uncertainty and fear about the election among many voters. To bring the overall situation under control, joint forces have become more active nationwide since Saturday and have taken to the field.
Crime analysts say that illegal weapons remain a major cause of concern surrounding the parliamentary election. Firearms looted from police stations and outposts could have a negative impact on the vote. There is no alternative to swiftly recovering these weapons and restoring voters’ sense of security.
Ahead of the election, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has instructed police officials at the field level to intensify efforts to recover weapons looted from police stations. The police have held several meetings on this issue. Most recently, on December 29, during the monthly crime review meeting at Police Headquarters, he issued even stricter directives.
According to police sources, 1,331 firearms looted from police stations across the country have not been recovered even after the past 17 months. In addition, 257,144 rounds of ammunition have yet to be recovered. Police say most of these have fallen into the hands of criminals.
During the July mass movement, 5,753 firearms were looted from various police stations, outposts, and police installations. These included 32 highly dangerous weapons belonging to the Special Security Force (SSF) looted from the Ganabhaban. Although most of the weapons have been recovered through law enforcement operations, 1,331 firearms are still missing.
Police Headquarters sources say that “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2” was launched nationwide after the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Manch, who was shot dead in Paltan, Dhaka. Under this special operation so far, 725 firearms of various types have been recovered. During searches, 25,419 rounds of bullets, 1,754 rounds of cartridges, 439 cocktails, and 82 bombs were seized. A total of 25,702 people have been arrested.
Last Friday, joint forces arrested Mehdi Hasan Dipu, an associate of top criminal Subrata Bain, from a house in Beparipara, Middle Badda in the capital, along with 11 sophisticated foreign weapons and 394 rounds of ammunition. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Badda Zone Assistant Commissioner Asaduzzaman said that a case has been filed against Mehdi under the Arms Control Act. Efforts are underway to identify the source of the weapons, and he has been placed on five days’ remand.
According to data from police, hospitals, and human rights organizations, incidents of killings using illegal firearms have increased recently. From January 2025 to January of the current year—a span of 13 months—more than 300 people were shot in political violence across the country, and over 100 were killed.
Last Saturday, illegal weapons were used in violent incidents in the Munshiganj Sadar and Gopalganj-2 constituencies. In Munshiganj-3 (Sadar), three people were shot during clashes between supporters of local candidates over election campaigning in the Munshikandi area of Mollakandi Union. The previous day, Friday, allegations arose that miscreants opened fire on independent candidate Md. Sipon Bhuiyan of Gopalganj-2 while he was returning home after campaigning. Following the incident, fear and anger spread among the candidate, activists, and supporters.
On Thursday night around 10 p.m., a young man named Rakib Hossain was dragged out of a salon and shot dead in public in Khulna. At the time, election-related meetings, gatherings, tea-stall discussions, and special law enforcement operations were ongoing in various parts of the city.
According to a report by the human rights organization Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), since the announcement of the election schedule, five people have been killed nationwide due to party and intra-party conflicts. More than 970 political activists and ordinary citizens have been injured in clashes, attacks, disputes over manifesto announcement programs, and other election-related violence involving various parties, nominated candidates, and deprived candidates’ supporters.
The report states that among 162 incidents of election violence, at least 334 people were injured and three killed in 40 incidents stemming from internal conflicts within the BNP. In addition, 560 people were injured and one killed in 50 clashes between BNP and Jamaat; two people were injured in two clashes between BNP and Awami League; 39 injured in eight clashes between BNP and NCP; and 32 injured in eight clashes between BNP and other parties. Three people were injured in two incidents involving other parties.
The report further notes that from the announcement of the election schedule until January 2026, at least 18 women were harassed and six injured in at least 12 incidents. Among the harassed women, 17 were Jamaat supporters and one was a supporter of Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Allegations indicate that in 11 of these incidents, BNP and its allied organizations were involved, while Jamaat was implicated in one incident.
Intelligence agencies have information that various types of illegal weapons are entering the country through different borders ahead of the election. Evidence suggests these weapons are being used for murder, mugging, robbery, extortion, land grabbing, and control over contracting.
Investigations in different areas of the capital reveal that juvenile gangs and other criminals in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, and other areas currently possess many firearms. Recently, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told journalists that illegal weapons are entering the country through border routes in connection with the Thirteenth National Parliamentary Election, and law enforcement agencies are actively working to recover weapons looted from police stations.
Killings Increasing Due to Illegal Weapons
In addition to the martyrdom of Inqilab Manch spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi last year, more than fifty people have been killed by gunfire due to political rivalries. Among them was Abdul Hakim, who was shot dead in public on one of Chattogram’s busiest roads. Police and hospital sources say that amid election turmoil, Hasan Mollah, general secretary of Hazratpur Union BNP in Keraniganj, was also shot dead. His killing has left grassroots leaders and activists in that area feeling extremely insecure ahead of the election. In Cox’s Bazar’s Ramu, a young man was also shot dead.
According to intelligence reports, the unrecovered weapons have changed hands and ended up with extremists, militants, and escaped convicts. Intelligence officials believe that the infiltration of small firearms through border routes has multiplied the risk. High-level police sources say that ahead of the parliamentary election, around 700 “linemen” are active in 27 border districts, facilitating the entry of small and medium firearms into the country. Small weapons such as pistols and revolvers are particularly being passed hand to hand among criminals because they are easy to carry and easy to use against targets.
64 Weapons Recovered by BGB at the Border
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources say that 64 illegal firearms of various types have recently been recovered from different borders of the country. In addition, more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition, over a hundred hand bombs, hand grenades, and other materials have been seized. Yesterday, Sunday, BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam said that in January, BGB recovered 14 foreign and locally made pistols, one hand grenade, 13 magazines, 185 rounds of ammunition, one mortar shell, one cocktail, and 28 other weapons during operations in border areas and elsewhere.
Dr. Touhidul Haque, Associate Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at the University of Dhaka and a social and crime expert, said that many firearms looted from police stations and smuggled across borders are now in the hands of criminals ahead of the election. For a long time, criminals had stockpiled these weapons, and now they are using them. To overcome this situation, he said, it is not enough to rely solely on law enforcement agencies; candidates contesting the national parliamentary election must also play their role.
Source:Kalerkantho
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
