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Illegal Firearms Fuel Killings and Crime Across Bangladesh
Bangladesh is seeing more crimes involving guns that are not legally owned.
Police recorded 123 shooting incidents in the first seven months of this year, and more than 50 people died.
Many weapons and bullets stolen during unrest in August 2024 have still not been found.
Some criminal groups are believed to have these weapons and other modern guns.
Guns were recently displayed during a clash in Chittagong.
People were also injured by gunfire during a dispute in Dhaka.
Police found a secret weapons factory hidden inside a repair workshop.
An expert said authorities should watch arms-smuggling routes and recover the missing weapons more quickly.
At least 123 shooting incidents were recorded across Bangladesh in the first seven months of this year, causing more than 50 deaths.
Police said 1,311 weapons looted during the August 2024 unrest, including 109 Chinese rifles and 30 submachine guns, remain missing.
About 257,125 rounds of ammunition looted during the unrest are also unaccounted for.
Authorities recently reported armed clashes in Chittagong and Dhaka and uncovered an illegal arms factory disguised as a repair workshop.
Police recorded 934 murder cases between May and July, while an expert urged stronger monitoring of smuggling routes and faster weapons recovery.
- Who
- Criminal groups, rival groups, police, and people involved in political and drug-related disputes are involved in the reported incidents.
- What
- Illegal firearms are increasingly being used in killings, clashes, drug disputes, territorial conflicts, and other crimes.
- Where
- Across Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chittagong's Sitakunda and Hathazari areas.
- When
- The reported incidents occurred recently; police data covers the first seven months of this year and the period from May through July.
- Why
- Weapons outside state control, including firearms looted during the August 2024 unrest, are contributing to public-safety concerns and violent disputes.
Key facts
- Shooting incidents
- At least 123 were recorded across Bangladesh in the first seven months of this year.
- Deaths from shootings
- More than 50 people were killed in those incidents.
- Missing looted weapons
- 1,311 weapons looted during the August 2024 unrest remain unrecovered.
- Missing ammunition
- Around 257,125 rounds remain unaccounted for.
- Notable missing weapons
- The missing weapons include 109 Chinese rifles and 30 submachine guns.
- Murder cases
- Police Headquarters recorded 934 murder cases between May and July.
- Recent police action
- Police discovered an illegal arms factory operating behind a CNG autorickshaw repair workshop in Hathazari.
Quotes
Touhidul Haque
Associate professor at Dhaka University's Institute of Social Welfare and Research
“At this moment, terrorist groups are keeping arms to carry out their misdeeds.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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