Over 10,000 missing AL firearms raise fears of political unrest

More than 10,000 firearms issued to leaders of the ousted Awami League (AL), a party whose activities are banned, have become illegal after they failed to surrender the weapons to the interim government.

These missing arms, originally issued to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her relatives, and three terms’ worth of ministers, advisers, MPs, and local leaders remain unaccounted for following the July mass uprising 2024.

Most of these individuals fled. Government agencies have launched searches but have yet to find the weapons, leading to significant concerns that they may be used to destabilize the nation’s law and order in the future.

During a meeting with law enforcement heads on 23 February, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters at the Secretariat, “Even though the interim government ordered to submit the weapons before the election, more than 10,000 have not been submitted. These weapons have legally become illegal.

“It has been decided to review the licenses issued during the AL period. Who the licensees are, whether licenses were issued through the proper process, whether they are eligible to receive licenses according to the law - these will be scrutinized”.

On 1 March, Ministry of Home Affairs directed all District Commissioners (DCs) to investigate licenses issued over the 16 years between January 2009 and 5 August 2024.

The ministry formed a five-member committee headed by the DCs to investigate whether licenses were issued based on political considerations or in violation of existing policies.

According to the Police Special Branch (SB), there are 49,671 legal firearm licenses in Bangladesh. Of these, 46,500 are held by individuals. More than 10,000 belong to AL activists, while around 2,500 are held by BNP members.

Reports from all districts revealed that 19,719 weapons were issued during the period, including 7,275 shotguns, 5,533 guns, 5,314 pistols, 614 revolvers, and 983 rifles. So far, authorities have canceled 622 licenses, filed 57 cases, and recovered only 38 weapons.

The vast majority of these arms were issued to members of the then-ruling AL and its affiliate organizations.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Quayum told Agamir Somoy, “First, the licenses of these weapons must be cancelled. If the licensees are fugitives, it is urgent to make maximum efforts to recover the weapons through their family members. Until the weapons are recovered, they may be misused.

“There is a sufficient fear that the weapons will be used to create any unstable situation. The government should engage all kinds of manpower, including intelligence, to recover the weapons. At the same time, the law enforcement agencies should be kept on maximum alert.”

Dhaka: Notable license holders include Sheikh Hasina, who obtained a shotgun license on 8 November 2009, just eight months after becoming prime minister, and a revolver license on 27 September 2020.

Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, also holds a license. Other members with licenses include Sheikh Fazle Shams, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Fazle Naeem, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, and Sheikh Helal. The list continues with former speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and former ministers Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Shajahan Khan.

Additional license holders include Syed Kamrul Islam, Anisul Huq, Zahid Maleque, RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, and former state ministers Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, Shahriar Alam, and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.

Former deputy minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former MPs Golam Maula Rony, Nahim Razzaq, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Pran Gopal Datta, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, Morshed Alam, and Talukder Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad also held licenses.

Others include Tanvir Imam (son of HT Imam), Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, journalist Farzana Rupa, and Hasina’s former PS-1 Nazrul Islam Khan.

The list also features special assistant Abdus Sobhan Golap, APS Saifuzzaman Shikhor, Subhash Chandra Singha Roy, and Abu Naser Beg (son-in-law of former food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder).

It includes Dhanmondi AL leader SM Kamal Hossain, former cabinet secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, former NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, and former secretary KM Ali Azam, Mohammad Sadiq, Mohammad Zainul Bari, Mezbah Uddin, MA Kader Sarker, Khaja Mia, Shahiduzzaman, and Nab Bikram Kishore Tripura.

Former IGP Benazir Ahmed, Chowdhury Nafiz Sarafat, and former Chhatra League general secretary Ajay Kar Khokon also held licenses.

Noakhali: License holders include former MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, his brother and AL supporter Shahid Uddin, and former MP Mamunur Rashid Kiron. Kiron’s brothers Sirajul Islam, Shahid Uddin Alamgir, and Harunur Rashid also obtained weapons.

Other local holders include Noakhali Municipal AL president Abdul Wadud Pintu, Khaled Md Ibrahim (son of former District AL president Md Hanif), Union AL general secretary Kamal Uddin Bablu, and Senbagh AL member Firoz Alam.

The list continues with Iskandar Mirza Shamim, Choumuhoni Municipal AL president Akhtar Hossain Faisal, Mojahed Hossain, Ayub Ali, and Masudur Rahman.

Jhalokathi: Licenses went to District AL treasurer Monirul Islam Talukder, Sadar AL vice president Syed Razzak Ali, his brother Syed Johurul Haque Swapan, Zakir Hossain, Kamal Sharif, Rezaul Karim Zakir, Yasmin Rabbi Poppy, and Nargis Akhter.

Holders there also include Tareq (Shahin Mridha), Rahim Mia (Babul), Aminul Islam Khan Liton, Khan Arifur Rahman, Mostafizur Rahman, Afzal Hossain, Mojibul Haque Akand, Rafiqul Islam Liton, and Hafiz Al Mahmud.

Jamalpur: License holders include former state minister Murad Hasan, former District Council chairman Faruk Ahmed Chowdhury, former Melandah Upazila chairman Kamruzzaman, GSM Mizanur Rahman, Sohrab Hossain Babul, Bizon Kumar Chanda, former mayor Sanoar Hossain Sanu, Nayem Rahman, and Monjurul Islam Lanju.

Other members include former MP Mozaffar Hossain, Shahriar Uzzal, Mirza Golam Kibria Kabir (brother of Mirza Azam), former Sadar Upazila chairman Abul Hossain, Khaleduzzaman Prodip, Farhan Ahmed, Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, Sakhawat Alam Mukul, and M Khalilur Rahman.

Thakurgaon: Licenses were held by the late Ramesh Chandra Sen, the late Dabirul Islam, and his son Mazharul Islam Sujon. Other holders include Sofiqul Islam, Ali Aslam Jewel, Arunangshu Datta Tito, and AKM Shamim Ferdous Togor.

The pattern is consistent across the country, where most licensees were leaders of the local AL, pro-AL businessmen, and contractors who received weapons based on political considerations over the last 16 years.

Local leaders at the Thana and Ward levels also took advantage of these licenses, with some using the weapons to intimidate political opponents.

Following the fall of the AL government on 5 August, the interim government suspended all firearm licenses and ordered all weapons to be surrendered to police stations by 3 September. Any weapon not returned by that deadline is now considered illegal.