Thirty-nine firearms were looted from Bogura Sadar Police Station during the political upheaval of 5 August 2024, but 22 of them remain unaccounted for nearly two years later. Despite a government reward being announced for information leading to the recovery of the weapons, none of the remaining firearms has been recovered or voluntarily handed over.
The firearms were taken after attackers stormed the police station, vandalised the premises, set parts of it on fire and broke open the armoury. Several thousand rounds of ammunition and cartridges were also reportedly looted during the incident. A large number of motorcycles kept at the station as case exhibits were also taken away.
Of the 39 firearms, 36 belonged to Bogura Sadar Police Station and three belonged to members of the police lines. The stolen weapons comprised five pistols, 12 rifles, five sub-machine guns and light machine guns, and 17 shotguns.
The incident took place on 5 August 2024, a day of major political upheaval in Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country for India amid the unrest. Later that afternoon, a group of attackers entered the Sadar Police Station on Kabi Nazrul Islam Road in Bogura.
Witnesses said several government and private establishments in the city were also attacked that day, including the Sadar Land Office, Sadar Upazila Parishad and the district office of the Awami League. Police personnel left the station under military protection after the situation deteriorated.
Once the station was left vulnerable, attackers entered the premises, carried out extensive vandalism and started fires before breaking the locks of the armoury. The firearms and ammunition were taken openly, according to accounts of the incident.
Four or five police vehicles inside the station compound were burnt during the attack. More than 200 motorcycles kept as case exhibits were also looted.
Law-enforcement agencies subsequently recovered 17 of the 39 firearms at different times, with some reportedly found abandoned. Several of the recovered weapons were said to be unfit for use. The remaining 22 firearms, along with a substantial quantity of ammunition, have yet to be traced.
Local residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that the missing weapons could have fallen into the hands of criminals and might eventually be used in criminal activities. Some residents alleged that a political leader in the Chelopara area of Bogura had been responsible for organising the looting of the station. However, these allegations were made by local residents and were not independently established in the information available.
Humayun Islam Tuhin, general secretary of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik in Bogura, said the failure to recover all the looted firearms had created anxiety among residents. He called on the police and the relevant law-and-order authorities to ensure that the missing weapons were recovered, warning that firearms remaining outside official control could pose a serious security risk.
Bogura Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge Ibrahim Ali said 17 of the 39 firearms had been recovered at different times and that operations to locate the remaining 22 were continuing. He expressed hope that the outstanding weapons would eventually be recovered.
As he had only recently joined the station, Ibrahim said he could not provide details of exactly how many rounds of ammunition and cartridges had been taken during the 2024 incident.
The continued absence of 22 firearms underscores the security concerns surrounding weapons looted during periods of major unrest. Until they are recovered, authorities face the challenge of determining where the weapons are and preventing them from being diverted into criminal use.
