Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
An arms user now has to pay Tk 30,000 instead of the previous Tk 5,000 as annual fee for holding a gun such as revolver, shotgun, rifle or pistol, as the fee has been raised six times, according to official sources.
They say the number of private arms holders in the country is approximately 12,000. Some unscrupulous staff of the concerned offices are also taking extra money from each arms holder through intimidation of fine or confiscating the licence of arms for being late paid or unpaid, it is alleged.
These dishonest employees also realize bribes from the arms users or their assigned persons in the name of ‘non-trouble payment’ to the banks concerned. The amount is between Tk 5,000 and Tk 15,000 for issuing pay-order or draft paper to clear the account of arms. A Home Ministry official said, “Around 12,000 private arms users now have to pay annual fee of Tk 30,000 instead of the previous Tk 5,000 for holding a gun, as per the new arms policy, which came into effect from August 3 last year.
Besides, a person has also to pay Tk.10,000 for renewing the licence of a pistol or a revolver and Tk. 5,000 for the renewal of licence of a gun, or shotgun or rifle, the official said. An individual is entitled to have a maximum of two arms licences, while the limit is six for any organisation. The government has raised the fee for the issuance of a licence of a pistol or a gun in different times.
According to the Home Ministry, ten kinds of people are entitled to possessing arms licences under privileged categories. They include Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Judges, Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers, the persons enjoying the rank of ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), Mayors of City Corporations and Category-A municipalities, District Council Administrators, Upazila Chairmen, gazetted freedom fighters and eminent personalities like researchers, cultural personalities, sportspersons and those approved by the Home Ministry. An individual seeking a licence for his or her arms has to pay income tax of Tk.300,000 annually for three consecutive years. A person between 30 and 70 years of age can apply to the Deputy Commissioner concerned for getting an arms licence. Contacted, Lieutenant General (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a former chief of army staff, told The New Nation on Saturday that the annual increase of private arms fee will not affect anyway the usage of arms. He, however, said the increase in fee six times for private users will create a burden for the fixed income group. AK Mofizul Haque, Joint Secretary (Political-1) of Security Division of the Home Ministry, told The New Nation: “The fee for using private arms has already been increased in the new arms policy for more revenue earning, based on the recommendations made by the committee concerned.”
The committee also suggested the Ministry raise the amount for using private firearms as many arms holders, mainly fixed income people, have become discouraged to use the arms, Haque said. A five-member committee has also been formed to revise the arms policy, as the rise in the fee drew flake, he added.
However, he declined to say anything about the exact number of the arms users.
Munira Sultana, Joint Secretary (Law) of Security Division at the Home Ministry, said such rise in the fee is a common phenomenon. Soheli Ferdous, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, said verification of the information about the arms seeker is police’s job.
Under the previous arms policy, persons who were entitled to possessing arms licences did not require training. That is why most of the licence-holders did not procure the arms after getting their licences, the Home Ministry officials said.
Under the new provisions, instead of owners, only organisations like financial institutions, readymade garment factories and educational institutions would be able to obtain arms licences. And, each of these organisations should have a paid-up capital of Tk. 1 crore.
Many people, including politicians and businessmen, have created a private security force for the sake of their safety after issuing arms in different fake names based on influence of VVIPs and VIPs, Detective Officials said.
They have already received more than 7,500 licensed arms from the government by dropping fake documents and certificates, they said.
Around 3,000 arms were issued among the political personalities while the total figure is 7,300 issued from 2009 to 2013..
The users must renew their licences by giving fee to the Treasury Section of District Magistrate by December 31 while the magistrate concerned will renew those by January 31.
