ছবি: Photo: Collected
Following the July revolution, attacks on nearly 460 police stations and 114 outposts resulted in widespread looting, vandalism, arson, and theft of government weapons and documents. These stolen arms have since circulated among criminals, extremists, fugitives, and juvenile gangs, escalating crime rates across the country.
According to police sources, a significant portion of the looted weapons has ended up in the hands of juvenile gangs. Many of those arrested for possessing these weapons are between 16 and 30 years old. Experts warn that these arms could be used for robberies, murders, and other serious crimes, posing a significant threat to public safety.
Data from the police headquarters reveals that after August 5, a total of 5,750 weapons were looted from various police stations and outposts. Of these, 4,351 weapons and 389,439 rounds of ammunition have been recovered. However, 1,399 weapons and 262,170 rounds of ammunition remain missing. The looted arsenal includes SMGs, LMGs, rifles, pistols, shotguns, gas guns, tear gas launchers, and sound grenades.
Criminals, including top terrorists, militants, and extremists, are reportedly purchasing these stolen weapons. Fugitives who escaped from prisons are also re-engaging in criminal activities, further exacerbating the situation.
Incidents involving these weapons have already been reported. For example, in October-November last year, shootings at Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur resulted in multiple deaths. In another case, a woman named Shahida Islam was shot dead with a looted police weapon on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway. Her boyfriend, Touhid Sheikh Tonmoy, was arrested in connection with the murder.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recovered 484 weapons, including 90 from their own looted stock and 228 from police looted arms. Additionally, 1,280 rounds of illegal ammunition have been seized, and 93 individuals have been arrested in connection with weapon recovery cases.
Prison authorities report that 2,200 inmates have escaped from jails, with 1,500 recaptured and 700 still at large.
Dr. Touhidul Haq, a criminologist and professor at Dhaka University, emphasized the urgency of recovering the missing weapons. "If the looted weapons are not recovered, the security risk will persist," he said. "Even the numbers provided by the police are estimates, and the actual situation could be worse. These weapons in the hands of criminals pose a constant threat."
Recent operations in Chattogram led to the arrest of six individuals and the recovery of weapons and ammunition looted from the Double Mooring Police Station. In another case, a notorious bandit, Ziaur Rahman, was arrested in Cox’s Bazar after resuming criminal activities using a looted pistol. Rahman, who had previously surrendered, is implicated in at least 14 cases, including five murders.
The widespread circulation of looted weapons continues to undermine public safety, with authorities struggling to contain the escalating crime wave.
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