Police are going to reinforce their positions by arming themselves in a bid to rein in the volatile political situation and stabilise the law and order in the country ahead of the national election.
As part of the move, the purchase of huge arms and ammunition and other operational equipment is underway.
Sources in the equipment unit at the police headquarters said it recently floated separate tenders to purchase 3,500 firearms, 71,800 gas grenades, gas guns and tear gas shells, 55,000 batons, 7,500 handcuffs, 26,000 jackets and vests, 5,000 ropes, 20,000 head safety gears, 8,000 bandoliers (bullet keepers), 25,000 slings for preserving bullets, 90,000 pairs of boots and various other necessary materials.
According to the sources, the usage of a large quantity of bullets and tear gas shells to deal with clashes centring the verdict against the war criminals, face-offs with the Hefazat-e-Islam and the ongoing hostile encounters between police and anti-government elements resulted in a shortage of the stockpiles.
“The purchase of arms and ammunition and other combat equipment is a regular process, but this year the police had to spend a record number of bullets and tear gas shells along with a large number of gas grenades and sound grenades in various encounters with Hefazat and the Jamaat-e-Islam,” said a senior police official in the headquarters on condition of anonymity.
He said on May 5 and 6, the highest amount of bullets, tear gas shells, gas grenades and sound grenades were spent on the confrontation with the Hefazat in Dhaka, Manikganj, Narayanganj and Chittagong.
Besides, to tame the ongoing violent political situation, police resort to firing of tear gas canisters and charging of batons almost regularly.
“Police reinforcement will be necessary to deal with any untoward situation centring the upcoming election,” added the police official.
Kamrul Hasan, assistant inspector general (equipment), however, did not make any comment on the purchase, terming it “secret.”
It should not be made public, added the police high-up.
But sources in the “Equipment” unit said a tender was floated on September 26 asking for the supply of 1,000 pieces of 9mm pistols,500 SMGs, 2,000 pieces of 12 bore shotguns and 65,000 pieces of tear gas shells while a similar tender on October 13 asked for armored personnel carriers and 14 other vehicles.
Besides, on September 08, police department tendered for a supply of 4,800 38mm tear gas shells, 2,000 gas grenades and 2,000 sound grenades.
Accordingly, on September 10, a tender was floated for the supply of 6,500 pieces of bullet-proof vests 14,500 pieces of splinter-proof jackets, 20,000 safety head gears, 20,000 pieces of shin pads, 2,000 litres of arms cleaner oil, 2,000 litres of arms cleaner grease and 5,000 pieces of life jackets.
On September 25, police asked the bidders to supply 55,000 pieces of batons, 75,000 pairs of handcuffs, 5,000 pieces of prisoners-ropes, 8,000 pieces of bandoliers for keeping bullets, 25,000 pieces of slings for carrying firearms and 90,000 pairs of boots.
