More than a year and a half after firearms and ammunition were looted from police during the July mass uprising in Bangladesh, law enforcement agencies have failed to fully recover them. Over one thousand firearms and more than two hundred thousand rounds of ammunition remain unaccounted for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security analysts warn that if these weapons are not recovered ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election, serious security risks could emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past 17 months, a joint force comprising the army and police has conducted multiple special operations to recover the missing weapons. The interim government has even announced cash rewards of up to Tk5,00,000 for information leading to the recovery of looted arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite these efforts, recovery has fallen well short of expectations. There are indications that many of the weapons have changed hands and ended up with criminal groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll looted weapons should have been fully recovered within the past year and a half, but the interim government and law enforcement agencies have failed to do so. If the weapons are not recovered before the election, conducting a free and fair vote will be difficult,\u201d said retired Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, speaking to BBC Bangla<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the July uprising, the police force has failed to fully regain its footing. As a result, public dissatisfaction with the country\u2019s law-and-order situation is growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n M4 carbines looted from vault amid Dhaka airport\u2019s cargo village fire<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Smuggled and looted arms, impunity for jihadists deepen security crisis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jihadist backing, minority persecution are foundations of Yunus\u2019 power<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a series of shootings and killings ahead of the election has further heightened voter anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn this situation, the government must clearly explain to voters how it plans to stop the use of weapons and ensure a secure election environment. Without reassuring voters on security, it will be difficult to bring them to polling centres,\u201d said election expert Dr. Abdul Alim to BBC Bangla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Weapons Were Looted<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During the July movement, public anger toward the police intensified due to their controversial role. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, more than 450 police stations and outposts across the country, including in Dhaka, were attacked and looted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weapons belonging to the Special Security Force (SSF) were also looted from Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister\u2019s official residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initially, police reported that attackers looted around 5,500 firearms and approximately 650,000 rounds of ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in a recent meeting with the Chief Adviser, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated that the actual number of looted firearms was 3,619, along with 456,418 rounds of ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The looted weapons included Chinese rifles, various types of guns, submachine guns (SMGs), light machine guns (LMGs), pistols, shotguns, gas guns, and other firearms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sajeeb Wazed condemns indemnity ordinance shielding July anarchists<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Under Yunus, law and order in Bangladesh at its worst in history<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A joint army-police special operation to recover the weapons began in September 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Army Chief, 2,259 firearms have been recovered, accounting for about 62.4% of the looted weapons. Additionally, 237,100 rounds of ammunition have been recovered, roughly 52% of the total looted ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In January, the government announced rewards for information leading to the recovery of the remaining weapons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tk5,00,000 for an LMG<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tk1,50,000 for an SMG<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tk1,00,000 for a Chinese rifle<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tk50,000 for pistols and shotguns<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tk500 per round of ammunition<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looted Weapons In Criminal Hands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of the weapons and ammunition looted from police stations have reportedly been used over the past year and a half in robbery, extortion, armed theft, and even murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April last year, two individuals arrested in Khulna on extortion charges were found with two police-issued pistols, a shotgun, and ammunition. Police stated that the suspects had been using the looted weapons in criminal activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Within months, police in Chattogram also recovered several looted weapons and rounds of ammunition, which had been used in robberies and muggings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lashkar-e-Tayyiba militants arrive in Dhaka as Yunus resumes Karachi flights<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whom should the US choose in Bangladesh: Jamaat, BNP, or Awami League?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yunus\u2019 Mobocracy: Extremists exploit Hadi\u2019s death to stir anti-India sentiment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In November 2024, a woman named Shahida Akhtar was shot dead in Srinagar Upazila of Munshiganj. Her body was recovered from a service lane of the expressway in the Dogachhi area. Investigators later confirmed that the murder was carried out using a pistol looted from Wari Police Station in Dhaka. Police subsequently arrested the killer and recovered the weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooted weapons that have fallen into the hands of ordinary criminals are being used in robberies and extortion. But an even greater concern is that many weapons may have changed hands and reached extremist groups. If that happens, the law-and-order situation could face serious danger,\u201d said retired Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nurul Huda echoed the concern: \u201cMissing weapons are always a security risk, because it is impossible to be certain who has them and for what purpose they may be used.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Heightened Anxiety\u2019 Surrounding Election<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Security analysts say that this parliamentary election carries greater security concerns than previous ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA major reason for this heightened anxiety is the weakened state of the police force. Ordinary people still do not fully trust them,\u201d said retired Major Emadul Islam, a security analyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ex-army officer BNP\u2019s Abdul Hoque calls for annexing India\u2019s Seven Sisters<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grameen\u2019s Al-Qaeda ties and Yunus\u2019 embrace of extremism and mobocracy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n LeT\u2019s Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer visits Dhaka, border districts, raising terror alert<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the July uprising, police officers were attacked and killed in several areas due to their controversial role. This led to a breakdown in discipline and severely affected morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although police returned to field duties after the interim government took power, the force has not fully recovered even after a year and a half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause of the police\u2019s weakened condition, the law-and-order situation has become fragile. With elections approaching, there is serious doubt over how effectively police will be able to perform,\u201d said General Muniruzzaman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of the 59 political parties registered with the Election Commission, 51 are participating in the election. The Awami League is barred due to its activities being banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDespite being a major party, the Awami League\u2019s exclusion from the election has angered its leaders and supporters. They may attempt to sabotage the election, which poses another major risk,\u201d warned Major Emadul Islam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jihadists wage war against ISKCON after police clear two Hindus of rape charges<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n