Asif Mahmud says airport bullet came from licensed firearm
NN Online:
A magazine containing a single bullet was discovered Saturday morning inside the travel bag of Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, an adviser to several ministries including LGRD and Youth and Sports, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Airport Executive Director Ragib Samad confirmed the discovery, saying, “Yes, it’s true that a magazine with a bullet was found in Asif’s bag. The video is all over YouTube. However, Asif behaved calmly and immediately acknowledged the item belonged to him.”
The incident gained widespread attention after UK-based Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer shared CCTV footage from the airport online, showing Asif being pulled aside during a routine baggage scan. In the video, he returns to the scanner and is seen speaking with security officials after the magazine was flagged. The footage went viral and triggered public debate, especially after several media outlets initially reporting on the matter later removed their stories—raising further suspicion.
On Sunday night, around 9 PM, Asif addressed the situation on his verified Facebook profile. He clarified that he lawfully owns a licensed firearm for personal security, given what he described as the “repeated assassination attempts on leaders of public uprisings.”
“For security reasons, I legally own a licensed firearm. When there’s no official protocol or security personnel with me, I carry it to protect myself and my family,” he wrote.
Asif, believed to be in Marrakech at the time of the post, said the magazine was packed accidentally in his bag before his 6:50 AM flight to Morocco to attend the “OIC Youth Capital International Program.”
“In the early morning rush, I mistakenly left one magazine in the bag while the actual firearm and a second magazine were left at home. The scanner picked it up, and I voluntarily handed it over to my protocol officer. It was entirely unintentional. If I had ill intentions, I wouldn’t have left the weapon behind. Nothing illegal was found, yet the matter has created unnecessary controversy,” he stated.
Some social media users questioned how Asif could legally possess a firearm license, as Bangladeshi law requires applicants to be at least 30 years old. However, UNB sources confirmed that individuals with ministerial rank—such as advisers to the interim government—are exempt from the age restriction.
Addressing claims that media outlets deleted reports under pressure, Asif dismissed the allegations:
“The idea that news reports were removed due to pressure is entirely baseless. I was on a 10-hour flight with my team when this unfolded online. I only saw the reactions after landing. And just to clarify, any citizen facing security threats can legally apply for a firearm license following due process.”
Repeated attempts to reach his public relations officer, Md. Salauddin, went unanswered as Asif is currently abroad.
