A significant portion of firearms stolen from the police last July remain unaccounted for, raising serious security concerns ahead of the national parliamentary elections. Despite the government announcing rewards on 10 August last year for the recovery of these weapons, progress has been minimal. Meanwhile, the circulation of illegal firearms in the underworld continues to rise, although authorities cannot confirm whether the stolen police weapons have entered criminal hands. Security analysts warn that the presence of large quantities of untraceable firearms could create a volatile environment, increasing the risk of violence, political intimidation, and organised crime.
Recent incidents underline the threat posed by illegal arms. On 12 December, Sharif Osman Hadi, convenor of the Inquilab Munch in Motijheel and a prospective candidate for the national election, was shot dead in Dhaka. Just ten days later, on 22 December, Motaleb Shikdar, Khulna divisional head of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) and central organiser of the National Workers’ Force, was injured in a shooting during an internal party dispute in Sonadanga, Khulna. Over the past 14 months, more than 500 killings across 20 districts—including Jashore, Chattogram, Khulna, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Comilla, Bogura, and Pabna—have involved illegal firearms.
Dr. Touhidul Haque, Associate Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, Dhaka University, noted that stolen police firearms are often used in criminal activities. “Some criminals even rent out these weapons,” he said. “Groups seeking to disrupt the election could exploit these arms to create instability and hinder a free and fair vote.”
Police sources confirm that stolen police weapons have indeed entered the black market, compounding law and order challenges. On 10 August, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Home Affairs Adviser, announced rewards for recovered firearms:
| Weapon Type | Reward (BDT) |
|---|---|
| Light Machine Gun (LMG) | 500,000 |
| Sub-Machine Gun (SMG) | 150,000 |
| Chinese Rifle | 100,000 |
| Pistol/Shotgun | 50,000 |
| Per round of ammunition | 500 |
At the time, the police reported 1,375 firearms and 257,849 rounds of ammunition were missing. By November, only 35 firearms and 190 rounds had been recovered, leaving 1,340 weapons and over 257,659 rounds unaccounted for. These include rifles, SMGs, LMGs, pistols of various calibres, shotguns, gas guns, and tear-gas launchers. Many of these weapons have likely changed hands multiple times or been discarded in waterways out of fear of detection.
In response to these threats, the government has suspended new firearm licences ahead of the 12 February election. Nevertheless, since 5 August 2024, nearly 45 licences were issued in Dhaka alone. Between 2009 and July 2024, previous administrations issued approximately 17,200 licences. Following an interim government directive, 13,340 weapons were surrendered, while 3,860 remain unaccounted for and are now officially classified as illegal.
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs revoked 1,177 licences, primarily held by politicians and businessmen associated with the ruling party. Dhaka led the cancellations with 796 licences, followed by Pabna (141), Chattogram (73), Jashore (66), Sylhet (63), and Cox’s Bazar (38). Many licence holders have either left the country, gone into hiding, or claimed that their weapons were stolen during unrest. Prominent figures, including Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Nizam Uddin Hazari, Shamim Osman, and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, failed to surrender their firearms within the designated timeframe.
With unaccounted police weapons and widespread illegal firearms in circulation, the upcoming elections are shadowed by the potential for serious security breaches and political violence.