Staff Reporter :
Law enforcement agencies have recovered at least 3,933 weapons looted during the movement to topple the Awami League government. These weapons were recovered till September 5 in a joint operation conducted by Bangladesh Army, Police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Forces, Coast Guard, and Rapid Action Battalion, according to the data of police headquarters.
It said that following the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government by the student-public upsurge, different police stations and units were attacked and set on fire and firearms and ammunition were looted.
The joint forces have been conducting drives against the looted and illegal firearms since September 4. The final date to surrender weapons and ammunition was September 3. The police headquarters data said that a total of 1,885 weapons, including rifles, SMGs, LMGs, and pistols, are yet to be recovered. Besides, nearly 3 lakh looted ammunition remained to be recovered.
According to headquarters sources, chinese Rifles– 839 recovered while 296 are yet to be recovered; Bangladeshi Rifles– nine recovered, one not recovered; SMGs– 191 recovered, 60 not recovered; LMGs– 21 recovered, 11 not recovered; Pistols– 731 recovered, 825 yet to be recovered, 9x19mm SMG/SMT — 32 recovered, one not recovered.
Shotguns — 1,624 recovered, 67 yet to be recovered, Gas Guns — 476 recovered, 117 not recovered, Tear Gas Launchers (Six Shot) — nine recovered, five yet to be recovered, Signal Pistols –1 recovered, 2 not recovered.
Different Caliber Bullets — 3,12,857 recovered while 2,94,405 yet to be recovered; Tear Gas Shells — 23,194 recovered and 8,811 not recovered; Tear Gas Grenades– 704 recovered while 751 yet to be recovered; Sound Grenades — 2,128 recovered and 2,564 were not recovered; Color Smoke Grenades — 213 recovered and 78 yet to be recovered.
Multiple Bang Stun Grenades — 18 recovered, 37 were not recovered; Flash Bang Grenades — 533 recovered and 360 were not recovered, Handheld Tear Gas Sprays (Canisters) — 94 were recovered, 83 not recovered.