42 looted firearms still missing in Bogura amid security concerns

More than nine months after firearms were looted from police custody during the July uprising in 2024, authorities have yet to recover 42 weapons, including high-powered rifles, submachine guns (SMGs), light machine guns (LMGs), and pistols in Bogura.

According to police sources, 59 government firearms were looted from a police station during the unrest. So far, only 17 weapons have been recovered, of which 12 were found burned and unusable, while just two remain operational.

Despite a case filed with Bogura Sadar Police Station on 28 September 2024, naming around 1,100 unidentified individuals, no arrests have been made so far. Sources in the crime branch of the Bogura Superintendent of Police's office said the missing weapons include Chinese-made 7.62 mm rifles, 9 mm pistols, SMGs, LMGs, shotguns, and gas guns. 

By 14 June, police had recovered one pistol, six rifles, four SMGs/LMGs, and six shotguns, mostly in damaged condition. Law enforcement officials fear the unrecovered firearms may have fallen into the hands of criminals, posing a serious threat to public safety.  Reports of armed robberies, hostage-taking, and violent crimes have heightened concerns over the missing weapons. The case was filed under relevant provisions of the Arms Act, Explosives Act, and Special Powers Act, with police acting as the complainant. Additional Superintendent of Police (Media Cell) Atwar Rahman said the district police are conducting intensive operations using multiple investigative methods to recover the firearms. Reward money has also been announced for information leading to their recovery.

Under the reward scheme, informants will receive Tk50,000 for pistols and shotguns, Tk1 lakh for Chinese rifles, Tk1.5 lakh for SMGs, and Tk5 lakh for LMGs. A reward of Tk500 has also been announced for each bullet recovered.

Responding to questions about the absence of arrests, Atwar Rahman said police would not detain anyone without clear and specific evidence. "We do not want to repeat mistakes of the past by harassing innocent people. Anyone found directly involved in the looting will be arrested and brought to justice," he said.

Bogura-6 (Sadar) Lawmaker Rezaul Karim Badsha and district Jubo Dal President Jahangir Alam expressed concern that the looted weapons could be used by criminals during upcoming local government elections and urged law enforcement agencies to intensify recovery efforts.

District Judge Court Public Prosecutor Advocate Abdul Bashed said illegal firearms pose a significant threat to public security and called on authorities to use modern technology and intelligence-based operations to recover the weapons as quickly as possible.