Bangladeshi security forces have initiated a major operation to recover thousands of firearms, including those seized during recent deadly unrest that resulted in the removal of autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina. The unrest, marked by student-led demonstrations and mass protests, culminated in Hasina fleeing to India on August 5 after 15 years in power.
In response to the protests, which saw police stations stormed and looted, authorities had launched an amnesty for gun surrender. By the end of the amnesty period on Tuesday, over 3,700 weapons had been recovered. However, more than 2,000 firearms, including rifles, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition, tear gas canisters, and stun grenades remain missing.
Senior police official Enamul Haque Sagor stated that any weapons not surrendered within the deadline would be deemed illegal. The operation involves the army, police, and other security units, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar forces.
Additionally, two former top police officers have been detained in connection with the violent suppression of the protests. Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who resigned the day after Hasina’s departure, and AKM Shahidul Haque, former police chief from 2014 to 2018, are both facing accusations of murder and have been placed on remand.
The UN’s preliminary report indicates that over 600 people were killed in the violence leading up to Hasina’s removal, with many casualties resulting from police gunfire.
