High Court bans sale of 27,000 weapons used in Liberation War

The High Court has banned the sale of 27,000 weapons used in the great Liberation War of 1971. 

At the same time, the court directed submitting a report within six months on the number of weapons of the Liberation War in the country and their current condition.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Mohiuddin Shamim passed the order during the writ petition hearing on Tuesday.

Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna who along with Ain O Salish Kendra filed the petition appeared in court. Lawyer Shahinuzzaman was with him during that time.

Earlier on November 15, the writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) seeking a ban on the sale of firearms which were used during the Liberation War of the country in 1971.

The secretaries of Defence Ministry, Finance Ministry, Liberation War Ministry, and Commerce Ministry were made respondents to the writ.

The writ also sought a High Court rule seeking explanation why selling firearms should not be declared illegal.

The writ also sought preservation of the arms for future generations.

A report of Daily Prothom Alo stating that the government wanted to sell firearms of the Liberation War was also attached with the petition.

Two arms import companies from the United States and one from Switzerland have expressed interest in buying the weapons as antique souvenirs.

However, according to Export Policy 2018-21, Bangladesh has no scope of exporting old or new arms as the country follows “everything but arms” policy for export, the newspaper report said.