THE law enforcement agencies working at the border areas have witnessed a massive movement of smuggled firearms into the country, reports an English daily on Monday. Statistics available with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) shows that there has been a sudden rise in small firearms recovery in the border belt in recent months showing that their trafficking has increased from across the border. BGB is not in a position to quantify the number but observing the situation they hold the impression that smuggling of firearms is on the rise at a time when upazila elections were being held across the country marked by an unprecedented rise in violence and killing.
The BGB information which they have shared with the press shows most firearms recovered in the border areas have Indian manufacturer marks while some others are produced in the USA. The news item quoted a DB official as saying that traders in firearms in Bangladesh quickly distribute them to miscreants. The information suggests that more firearms are entering into the country through the border across Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Jessore, Meherpur and Chuadanga. It has is alarming trend.
However, this is only part of the sudden surge of firearms. Recent statistics from the department of police also suggest that the growing number of recovery of small firearms confirms the signs of their increased entry into the country from across the border. In February, police recovered at least 160 firearms; which were 172 in January. The number was 122 in December 2013 and 104 in November 2013. DB police hold the view that political activists are the main clients of illegal weapons while only a few years ago under-world criminal gangs were the main customers.
These firearms statistics and news reports support the veracity of the surge in arrival of illegal firearms into the country. The growing use of firearms in the election violence is also supportive of the claims of the law enforcing agencies. This is precisely how the Upazila elections were setback by violence. Another disclosure is that most political activists pay for the guns with money they receive from political bigwigs or by running extortions and mugging. Yet another disastrous side of these firearms is that they will not suddenly disappear and remain the source of growing chaos and destabilization in the society.
It means that the number of professional criminals moving around will also increase. These are alarming signs for peace-loving people-be it in any profession who may become their possible victims.
We hold the government responsible for creating a firearm based society due to the internecine political rivalry and ask it to take steps to recover these illegal arms to make the society safe from new threats. We would not like to see a criminalized society growing instead of our youths becoming good human beings.
