The rising use of illegal firearms has emerged as a major challenge to law and order ahead of the upcoming national election. In Chattogram, BNP-nominated MP candidate Ershad Ullah and several others were shot during election campaigning, leaving one person dead. In Old Dhaka, a man named Tarique Saif Mamun was shot dead in broad daylight. Earlier, two people were killed in separate shooting incidents within a week during an internal BNP dispute in the char areas of Munshiganj Sadar. Similar incidents of gunfire and armed violence have also been reported from different districts across the country.
Against this backdrop, law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to prevent arms smuggling through the borders, recover looted weapons, and dismantle criminal networks. Additional Inspector General of Police Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said illegal firearms now pose a serious threat to public security. He noted that reward announcements had failed to yield results, prompting instructions for covert operations by all units to recover weapons.
Experts warn that the misuse of illegal arms may increase around the election, potentially destabilising the electoral environment. A significant number of weapons enter the country through border routes, while many firearms looted from police stations and other locations remain in criminal hands, making recovery difficult.
Law enforcement agencies and joint forces are conducting regular operations, while the Election Commission is holding meetings with security agencies to address these challenges. The Chattogram Metropolitan Police reported the arrest of 112 armed criminals between January and September. In coastal areas including Bhola, 70 militants and 61 criminals were arrested over six months, with 34 firearms recovered. Five armed suspects were also recently detained in Raozan, Chattogram.
Police sources say once weapons are looted, recovery becomes increasingly difficult as top criminals trade them. Official data show that 1,342 firearms and 257,287 rounds of ammunition remain missing. During last year’s unrest, attacks on 460 police stations and 114 outposts resulted in the looting of 5,753 weapons and 651,008 rounds of ammunition.
Former IGP Mohammad Nurul Huda warned that these looted weapons could influence the election if not recovered in time. In areas like Narayanganj, the failure to retrieve stolen arms has heightened public concern. Law enforcement agencies have assured that surveillance and joint operations will be further strengthened ahead of the polls.
GLIVE/TSN