Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has said a magazine found in his luggage during screening at Dhaka airport was left behind unintentionally, stressing that there was nothing illegal in the incident and dismissing allegations of suppressing related news coverage.
In a Facebook post made while travelling abroad on Sunday, the adviser explained that he was en route to attend the OIC Youth Capital International Program in Marrakesh, Morocco, and his flight was scheduled for 6:50am.
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He said that while packing early in the morning, although he had consciously kept his licensed weapon and one magazine aside, a second magazine was mistakenly left inside his bag.
"When the magazine appeared on the scanner, I handed it to my protocol officer on the spot. The matter was entirely unintentional," he wrote.
He added: "What could I possibly do with just a magazine? If there had been any harmful intent, I would not have left the weapon behind."
Asif, who is also the local government adviser, further clarified that he has a licensed weapon for personal and family safety due to repeated attempts on the lives of key figures involved in the July uprising.
“It is only natural to retain legal protection when there is no official protocol or security detail provided,” he noted, adding that any citizen facing security risks can also obtain a weapon licence by following due process.
Addressing accusations that he exerted pressure to remove news of the incident, the adviser rejected them as completely false.
“Following the incident, I was on a 10-hour flight with my team. I only learned of the widespread discussion much later, after arriving during transit,” he said.
He acknowledged that while the situation was entirely lawful, it may have become a topic of discussion for some, but reiterated that no wrongdoing had occurred.
He concluded: “As a citizen, if you too face security risks, you can obtain a licensed weapon by following the proper legal procedures.”