HC seeks explanation over recovery of looted firearms

The High Court today issued a rule asking the government to explain why it should not be directed to take necessary steps to recover the remaining firearms looted during the July uprising.

The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anowarul Islam issued the rule following a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan, seeking necessary directives.

He said in the petition that during the 2024 mass uprising around 5,750 firearms and 6,51,609 rounds of ammunition were looted from police stations and offices of different law enforcement agencies across the country.

Although the government announced rewards to recover the weapons, a significant number of those firearms have not yet been recovered.

He also said that such a large number of missing weapons poses a serious threat to public safety, as they can be used for criminal activities.

In the petition, the lawyer argued that the situation threatens the citizens’ right to life guaranteed under Article 32 of the Constitution, prompting the High Court to issue the rule, seeking an explanation from the authorities.

Advocate Mahmudul himself moved the petition.