Recovery of Looted Firearms: Announcing rewards brings no fruition

• 1,300 firearms still missing 
• 2,50,000 rounds of ammunition unaccounted for
• Home ministry offers up to Tk 5 lakh for info
• Police stress need for coordinated recovery amid polls concerns

Despite the home ministry's announcement of significant rewards 10 days ago, no actionable information has been provided to the police regarding the firearms looted during last year's July uprising.

Around 1,300 firearms remain missing, looted from various police stations and outposts across the country in July and August of 2024.

Police officials suspect that many of the stolen firearms were sold to criminals and are now being used in illegal activities.

Some individuals involved in the looting are believed to have disposed of the weapons and ammunition in rivers and other water bodies, fearing legal repercussions.

Shahjada Md Asaduzzaman, additional deputy inspector general (operations) at Police Headquarters, said, "We are yet to receive any information from police units about individuals coming forward with details on the looted firearms and ammunition after the reward announcement."

He assured that police operations against illegal firearms and drugs are ongoing.

Read more

1,300 firearms looted from police stations still missing

Police officials and experts have emphasised the need for a coordinated effort to recover the firearms, highlighting the potential risks they pose, especially ahead of the upcoming general election.

On August 25, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced rewards for information leading to the recovery of the looted firearms. The highest reward of Tk 5 lakh was offered for the recovery of a light machine gun, Tk 1.5 lakh for a sub-machine gun, Tk 1 lakh for a Chinese rifle, Tk 50,000 for a pistol or shotgun, and Tk 500 for each bullet.

The home adviser assured that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.

The Awami League government was overthrown in a student-led uprising on August 5 last year, when 5,753 firearms and 6,51,609 rounds of ammunition were looted from various police stations and outposts, according to police headquarters.

More than 1,300 firearms and over 2,50,000 rounds of ammunition remain missing, with many reportedly now in the hands of criminals.

Among the unrecovered weapons are rifles, sub-machine guns, light machine guns, 7.62x25mm pistols, 9x19mm pistols, shotguns, gas guns, teargas launchers, and pistols.

Police officials said recovery efforts have included regular operations, waterbody searches, and interrogations of suspects linked to the looting. However, progress has been slow due to a lack of reliable leads.

"We are seeing a lack of cooperation from the people. We hope the reward announced by the home ministry will motivate witnesses to come forward," said an official of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.