Photo: Collected
Out of 5,829 various types of weapons looted from police stations across the country during the anti-discrimination student movement, 2,066 remain unrecovered. During the same period, 606,742 rounds of ammunition of different calibres were looted. Of these, 286,082 rounds have been recovered, leaving 320,660 rounds still missing. In other words, a large number of weapons are still in the hands of the looters.
This information has been confirmed by the Police Headquarters.
According to the Police Headquarters, out of 1,147 looted 7.62 China rifles, 809 have been recovered, while 308 are still missing. Of 10 7.62 BD rifles, 9 have been recovered, and 1 is still missing. Out of 251 SMG 56 China rifles, 185 have been recovered, with 66 still missing. Of 32 looted LMG 56 China rifles, 21 have been recovered, and 11 are still missing. Among 1,556 looted 7.62 and 9.19 China pistols, 707 have been recovered, leaving 849 still missing. Out of 33 SMGs, 1 is still unrecovered. Of 2,190 12-bore shotguns looted, 1,568 have been recovered, and 622 are still missing. Out of 593 38mm gas guns, 425 have been recovered, with 168 still missing. Of 14 38mm tear gas launcher six-shots, 6 have been recovered, and 8 are still missing. Out of 3 26mm signal pistols, 1 has been recovered, and 2 are still missing.
Regarding ammunition, out of 606,742 rounds of various calibres looted, 286,082 have been recovered, leaving 320,660 still missing. Out of 31,044 tear shells, 22,139 have been recovered, and 8,905 are still missing. Of 1,455 various types of tear gas grenades, 704 have been recovered, with 751 still missing. Out of 4,692 sound grenades, 2,116 have been recovered, and 2,576 are still missing. Of 291 colour smoke grenades, 213 have been recovered, with 78 still missing. Out of 55 seven/multiple bang stun grenades, 18 have been recovered, and 37 are still missing. Of 893 flash bang/6-bar grenades, 533 have been recovered, leaving 360 still missing. Out of 177 hand tear gas sprays, 94 have been recovered, and 83 are still missing.
Law enforcement officials report that joint operations began at midnight on Tuesday, with the army joining in. The primary objective of these operations is to recover the looted weapons.
At the end of the anti-discrimination student movement, several police installations, including stations and outposts, were attacked, vandalised, and set on fire. Thousands of police weapons and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition were looted. These weapons pose a threat to everyone, including law enforcement agencies.
DMP Commissioner Mainul Hasan said that clashes between police and protesters and loss of life occurred in various parts of the country due to the anti-discrimination student movement. In the days leading up to and following Sheikh Hasina's departure from power, several police installations, including stations and outposts, were attacked, vandalised, and set on fire. Many weapons, along with various equipment and documents, were looted.
Mainul Hasan, “On August 25, the Home Ministry issued a notification suspending firearms licenses granted to civilians from January 6, 2009, to August 5, 2024, and instructed that firearms and ammunition be submitted to the respective police stations by September 3. According to the directive, firearms not submitted by September 3 will be considered illegal. Additionally, individuals found in possession of looted police weapons and ammunition have been asked to submit them to the police station by September 3, or face legal action.”
At the Secretariat, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, "September 3 was the last day for submitting both illegal and legal weapons. Therefore, we are taking various measures to ensure compliance."
Messenger/Disha
