"We believe these modern firearms were intended to run subversive activities in Bangladesh, as the consignment landed here," Babar told newspersons after he flew to the port city by helicopter in the wake of the arms cache joint forces discovered in 10 trucks on tip-off.

On whether the firearms have any link to the deadline the main opposition Awami League set for dislodging the BNP-led ruling coalition, Babar said: "Such a link cannot be ruled out altogether, but it is now subject to investigation."

"Such a slew of sophisticated arms smuggled into Bangladesh threatens national security, but we are on alert," he said.

"We will pull out all the stops to identify and punish the guilty," Babar said. "All including the owners and crew of the vessels that carried the consignment will be quizzed to track down the racket."

"Several teams were tasked with investigation," he said, declining to give more details on government efforts to trace the smugglers. On the numbers of firearms, he said: "Let the seizure list be complete."

But an unofficial estimate says about 10,000 firearms and 3 lakh bullets were seized in about 1,500 wooden boxes.

Inspector General of Police Shahudul Haq accompanied the state minister to Chittagong. Chittagong ministers such as Abdullah Al Noman and Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin and former commerce minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also visited the scene of the arms bust.

"It is a very bad time. The smuggling of such arms and ammunition may send panic through people," Khosru told the journalists.