Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
The law enforcing agencies, including police, are ready to start immediate massive drive to recover illegal firearms as per instruction of the Election Commission (EC) ahead of the 11th Parliamentary election scheduled to be held on December 30.
Security services are still on high alert to prevent the use of unauthorized weapons to thwart untoward incidents, Police Headquarters sources said.
They have already kept watch on illegal arms users as per reports of intelligence agencies, they said.
Illegal firearms are finding their way into Bangladesh from the neighbouring countries, according to them. On October 31, the Election Commission held a meeting with 23 ministries and departments. The Home Ministry was asked to launch a countrywide drive to recover illegal firearms immediately.
The Election Commission (EC) has already asked the law enforcers to launch a countrywide drive to recover illegal firearms once the election schedule was announced, EC sources said.
The Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda on Saturday said that law enforcers did not arrest anybody without specific reasons, they said.
Earlier, the Home Ministry’s Public Security Division was also instructed to take necessary steps against terrorists, drug addicts and target groups which may look to create anarchy ahead of the polls, said a high official of the ministry.
High officials of the police headquarters, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), also recently held meetings with all Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG) of every single range, Commissioners of metros and superintendents of police on the recovery of illegal firearms and maintaining law and order ahead of the election, he said. “Nobody can guarantee that registered arms will not be used illegally,” the security analyst and former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain told the New Nation on Thursday.
“Law enforcement agencies should ensure that the (firearms) database is updated before the election. Legal firearms should be submitted to the law enforcement agencies in the interest of a free and fair election, ” he said.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Major General Md Shafeenul Islam recently told the media, “We have been increasing our efforts in the last three months to stop the smuggling of illegal arms through the border.”
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed said. “We will continue the operations throughout the country as no illegal weapons are used during election. Even after the polls, RAB’s operations will continue.”
Md Moniruzzaman, Additional Deputy Inspector General (Confidential) of Police Headquarters, said that law enforcers to start the drive for illegal arms recovery as per EC’s directives ahead of national polls.
Cops are keeping eyes on the illegal arms users, as some of those were used at Postagola bridge clash between Police and transports workers, gangster groups’ firing on Khilgaon shop, battle fight between police and goons in Uttara, Baddar double murder, said another official of PHQs. “The illegal arms gangs use special code for dealings their under ground arms market. The common names are being used as ‘Hati or Elephants’ for big arms, ‘Ghora or Horse’ for pistols, ‘Kolagachh or Banana tree’ for bullets, ‘Sound box’ for bombs and Mati or soil for explosive,” he said.
The arms recovery is very essential to maintain the law and order situation as the arms holders may use their weapons for creating panic during election, he added.
Police Headquarters Assistant Inspector General (Media) Sohel Rana said, “Law enforcement agencies are also engaged in maintaining law and order. During the election, the agencies will adhere to the instructions given by the EC to maintain law and order.” A Dhaka University (DU) teacher said that all types of arms to use creating panic among opposition and innocent people during polls and then. Seeking anonymity, a arms shop keeper, said, “Legal arms holders may use weapons by violating license condition.”
Mentionable, Section 17A (2) of the Act allows for the cancellation or suspension of the firearms license of any person carrying arms during the period of the national and local government elections.
In addition, Section 78(1) of the Representation of the People Order 1972 says no person can show or use any arms or force during the period 48 hours prior to the start of the poll and 48 hours after conclusion of the poll. Anyone violating this provision can face a jail term of two to seven years, plus a fine.
