Firearms stoke fear before polls

With just four days remaining before the 12 February 13th national parliamentary election, the open use of firearms in broad daylight has fuelled fear across parts of the country, despite a massive security deployment involving around nine lakh members of the military, law enforcement agencies and the Ansar.
A video circulating on Saturday shows at least four youths carrying firearms and running across a field in Molla Kandi area of Munshiganj Sadar around 11am. The exact number of armed men present could not be confirmed, as the footage does not capture everyone at the scene.
Local residents said supporters of BNP-nominated candidate Kamruzzaman Ratan attacked supporters of independent candidate Md Mohiuddin during election campaigning in the area, leaving six people injured.
The public display of illegal firearms is not new in Molla Kandi. Another video from 10 November last year shows eight people carrying firearms, with one of them seen firing shots at a target.
Sajib Dey, inspector (investigation) at Munshiganj police station, told the Daily Sun that police are conducting drives to arrest those involved and recover the weapons.
Azhar Ali of Munshi Kandi under Molla Kandi union, who is currently a temporary resident of Madhya Badda in the capital, said many people in his area possess firearms.
“I have seen and heard about this many times,” he told the Daily Sun.
“I think the firearms will be used to control the polling centres in the area. I suspect ballot stuffing by those who have greater arms power,” he added.
Violence linked to the election has also been reported elsewhere. 
On 31 January, BNP and Jamaat activists clashed at Hatbair village in Jagannathdighi of Chauddagram upazila in Cumilla, leaving eight people injured. Firearms were used by both groups during the clash.
Police data show that 143 incidents of violence occurred across the country between 12 December and 26 January. 
Since the official election campaign began on 22 January, numerous clashes have taken place among supporters of parliamentary candidates, with firearms and cocktails used in many incidents.
A senior police officer posted at Police Headquarters told the Daily Sun that law enforcers and military personnel have recovered a large number of weapons, but many still remain in circulation.
“I think all influential candidates will try their best to win the race. Then the use of firearms will come automatically,” he said.
An intelligence officer said easy access to firearms, including through online channels, has become a serious concern.
“Although the security forces have recovered a huge number of firearms, criminals have collected them again from different sources, including online,” he said.
Brig Gen Dewan Mohammad Monzur Hossain, director of the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters, said on Thursday that a total of 10,152 weapons and 291,000 rounds of ammunition have been recovered since August 2024.
During the same period, 22,282 identified criminals were arrested and handed over to the police.
Crime analyst Professor Omar Faruk told the Daily Sun that the apparent inactivity of security forces is creating deep concern ahead of the election.
Another crime analyst, Dr Tawohidul Haque, described the use of firearms as “an ominous sign” and warned of a potentially adverse situation surrounding the polls.
Retired Additional Inspector General of Police M Akbar Ali said the widespread presence of illegal firearms is alarming.
He noted that unregistered weapons, recently smuggled arms and legal firearms looted from police establishments in 2024, as well as those taken from the then BGB headquarters in Pilkhana in 2009, remain a serious concern.
According to Police Headquarters, around 1,332 looted firearms are yet to be recovered.