A video shows that at least 28 people wearing masks and helmets were parading through a road at Molla Kandi in Munshiganj Sadar, immediately after gunning down BNP activist Arif Meer on Monday. Eight of them were clearly seen carrying firearms. One of them fired a shotgun at a target, while the others carrying crude bombs and sharp weapons walked alongside him.

Another recent video captured at Bilashpur in Zajira, Shariatpur, shows three individuals carrying plastic buckets. Two of them were throwing crude bombs one after another at a target.

These videos show only two of several hundred incidents of violence involving firearms and ammunition in the country over the last 14 months, raising concerns about the proliferation of illegal weapons.

Intelligence and law enforcement sources told the Daily Sun that politically connected figures, professional criminals and armed groups operating in the Chattogram Hill Tracts are stockpiling weapons in advance of the 13th national general election, scheduled for February next year.

The weapons are believed to be smuggled primarily from neighbouring countries through multiple border routes, including Teknaf and Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar; Chougachha, Jhikargachha, Sharsha, Darsana, Shahzadpur, Hizla, Andulia and Mandartala in Jashore; and Benapole’s Goga, Kayba, Shikarpur, Daulatpur and the Hili border in Dinajpur.

Sources confirmed that the cache includes submachine guns (SMGs), rifles, pistols and shotguns.

Detective Branch officials said the smuggled and unrecovered firearms—alongside those looted from police depots and even the secure Strong Room at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport—pose a serious threat to public security.

Illegal arms cases surge

Police Headquarters data show 1,506 firearms cases were filed nationwide between January and October this year, up from 1,124 over the same period in 2024. “Statistics show the use of arms and recoveries have increased this year,” said one police officer who asked not to be named.

A Dhaka Metropolitan Police official said that at least 200 crude bombs were detonated across the capital over the past three months alone.

According to a report by the Human Rights Support Society, 170 people were killed and 8,563 injured in 1,111 political clashes across the country between September 2024 and October 2025. Of those, 235 sustained gunshot wounds.

Recently, seven people, including notorious criminal Tarik Saif Mamun, were shot dead in separate incidents in Dhaka, Chattogram and Narsingdi.

On 26 October, the Bangladesh Army recovered eight pistols, 16 magazines, 26 rounds of ammunition, 2.39kg of gunpowder and 2.23kg of plastic explosives from a train compartment at the Airport Railway Station in Dhaka.

Speaking at a press briefing at Dhaka Cantonment, a senior army officer voiced concern over the continued inflow of arms and explosives.

Police records show that of 5,763 firearms looted last year, 4,421 have been recovered—leaving 1,342 still missing, along with 257,287 rounds of ammunition.

Missing arms from airport vault

Following a massive fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 18 October, the airport’s Strong Room – where arms were reportedly stored – was found unlocked days later.

Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, confirmed that on 28 October the vault’s lock was found broken.

Airport Police said they retrieved 67 pistols, 12 shotguns, one rifle and 991 blank cartridges from the room, though it remains unclear how many weapons and rounds were stored before the breach.

Md Tayeafuzzaman, CEO of the arms retailer Gun Max, told the Daily Sun that 16 imported pistols, 20-25 rifles, 20,000 pistol bullets and 300,000 sporting rifle bullets were missing – valued at roughly Tk3.9 crore.

An employee at Emran Arms and Company, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many of their imported arms and ammunition were also missing from the Strong Room, adding that customs authorities had instructed them not to comment publicly.

“If no progress is made, we will reveal details about our missing stock,” the employee said.

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told reporters on Tuesday that the government would intensify efforts to recover both illegally held weapons and those looted from state establishments.

“An investigation team is working on the arms theft from the airport, and we expect to know more once their report is submitted,” he added.

The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]