Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said around 10,000 licensed firearms issued on political grounds during the previous Awami League government have yet to be surrendered.
He made the remarks after a session of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
During the session, he outlined the government’s position on maintaining law and order, recovering illegal weapons, withdrawing harassment-related cases and preparations for the upcoming Eid al-Adha.
He said necessary instructions had been given to ensure the quick surrender and recovery of the firearms, adding that legal action could be taken and the weapons confiscated if necessary.
The minister said firearm licenses issued irregularly between January 2009 and August 2024 will be reviewed by district-level committees, which will take appropriate measures accordingly.
He said priority is also being given to withdrawing politically motivated and harassment-related “ghost cases” filed during the previous Awami League government. Committees comprising district magistrates and superintendents of police will review such applications.
Cases involving serious crimes such as murder, illegal arms and drug trafficking will remain outside this process.
The home minister instructed deputy commissioners to ensure that innocent people and journalists are not harassed in cases filed after the anti-discrimination movement. He said actual offenders should be brought to justice quickly, while those falsely implicated should be released through due legal process.
Referring to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, he said there was no immediate concern about instability along the border, but Border Guard Bangladesh had been instructed to remain on maximum alert
