10,000 firearms of AL era unrecovered

Nearly 10,000 licensed firearms issued during the tenure of the previous Awami League (AL) government have yet to be surrendered, according to the authorities.

The government has now directed the relevant agencies to take urgent steps to collect and recover these weapons.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed disclosed the information on Wednesday while speaking to journalists at the District Commissioners’ Conference. He also indicated that instructions have been issued to initiate legal action and confiscate arms where necessary.

He said district-level committees have been instructed to review weapon licences issued outside established policy between January 2009 and August 2024 and to take appropriate action based on their findings.

The minister stated that the government’s position on a range of issues-including maintaining law and order, recovering illegal firearms, and withdrawing alleged harassing cases-was presented to Deputy Commissioners at the conference.

He further said the government is prioritising the withdrawal of political and alleged “harassing” or “phantom” cases filed during the previous administration. A committee, coordinated by District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police, will review related applications.

“We will not settle these cases ourselves. We will send them to the Law Ministry. The cases that they opine are of significance will continue, and the rest will be asked to be withdrawn,” the Home Minister said.

“I have asked for this list to be sent within one month. If any district takes a little more time in the interest of justice, I do not think that will be much of a problem.”