Extortionists, muggers, dacoits and political cadres are now stockpiling their arms which are entering into the country through 48 points in the border areas largely.
The maximum illegal arms shipments are entering the capital through the borders of Chapainawabganj, Jessore, Satkhira, Comilla, Akhaura, Teknaf and Bandarban areas. Dodging the eyes of the law enforcers, these arms are now going to the hands of political cadres and underworld criminals active across the country including the capital.
Intelligence officials have come to know that such shipments started entering in the country three months ago centring the upazila polls. At that time, due to the law enforcers’ vigilance, these smuggled arms could not enter the capital but now it started coming in through different routes.
The latest development has some explanation as the Railway Police recovered arms and ammos from “Subarna Express” train on Monday and yesterday. In the shipments, there were AK 22 rifles, powerful explosives, bullets and magazine.
The recovery has made the law enforcement agencies worried, as the US-made automated AK 22 rifles are not common. Even the law enforcers have this type of arms in limited scales. These rifles have an effective range of around half a kilometre.
When asked, Sohrab Hossain, deputy inspector general of Railway Range police, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were yet to trace the masterminds behind the shipments. “Primarily, we are suspecting that these arms may be brought to the capital to carry out massive destruction,” he said.
However, he mentioned that they were conducting investigation suspecting two banned militant organisations – JMB and Huji – for being behind the shipments.
In August last year, the RAB personnel arrested three members of a new organisation – believed to be an offshoot of the JMB, and recovered huge cache of firearms including AK 22 rifles.
When contacted, Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, additional director general of RAB, told the Dhaka Tribune that in investigation, they had been confirmed that these arms entered into the capital illegally through border points since those were not made inside the country.
“But we are yet to be sure about the importers. We suspect that there are militant groups behind these. It can be confirmed after investigation.”
Not only AK rifles, but also some other deadly firearms including foreign-made pistols, revolvers and Chinese rifles, are coming into the capital.
However, the most popular arms in the capital’s underworld are six-inch-long pistols – made by the Indian Ordinance Factory, according to sources.
Use of firearms and explosives has been highly demanded these days as the maximum use of explosion took place last year during the BNP-led alliance’s anti-government movement.
The recent scenario also implies that the use of firearms in criminal incidents rose sharply in the last two months. Criminals now operate firearms even for a little offence.
According to sources, over 12 incidents related to firearms occurred last month in the capital, which is three times higher than any other times in the past.
Sanowar Hossain, the chief of Counter Terrorism Unit of the police, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The use of firearms often rises and sometimes goes down. However, we are suspecting that their use have risen up remarkably in the recent times.”
The police are keeping eye on some criminals groups in the capital to know whether they were behind these illegal imports.
Intelligence sources say top criminal Rony’s associate Mithu is operating over 12 arms at Maghbazar area. The maximum stockpiling of arms takes place in Old Dhaka while the biggest shipments are going to the hand of Debashish Group in Kotwali area.
Moreover, Rahman Group, Boma Kamal Group, Saimon Group, Gol Taizu Group, Lomba Taizu Group and Zubair Group have some stocks of illegal arms. In police directory, there are extortion, grabbing and mugging cases filed against these groups.
Shahadat Group of Mirpur has 15 to 20 firearms while Ishak Group possesses 12 firearms.
It is alleged that notorious criminal Kamal is importing the maximum number of arms through Chapainawabganj.
Among others, Shahin, Rashid and Dallas are also importing arms through the same border while Nasir, Jhunu and Shamim through Benapole border of Jessore.
The intelligence agencies have come to know that the maximum shipments of arms are made by the Indian Ordinance Company as the recovered arms carry the name.
Asked about the illegal arms smuggling, Brig Gen Aziz Ahmed, director general of the Border Guard Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Smugglers take the opportunity of loopholes in the importing system. They often bring the arms inside fruit cartons, and onion, rice or potato sacks. Sometimes they bring arms through waterways and roads which are quite difficult to monitor.”
He said the BGB had seized some of the illegal shipments in the past. “However, our members are doing their best to find these criminals and seize such shipments,” he added.