Criminals have got an easy access to illegal firearms in the capital as they are aided by unauthorised firearms manufacturers, dishonest traders and even quarters among law enforcing agencies and armed forces, according to a recent intelligence agency report.
Submitted to the Home Ministry last month, the report mentioned that criminals have been conducting their unlawful activities in the capital collecting firearms and ammunition through seven ways.
The most convenient way for the criminals is to collect firearms from various workshops, where firearms like pistols and pipe-guns are being manufactured using light-engineering machines, the report says.
Another usual way of collecting firearms is either snatching and stealing from legal arms holders or collecting those on rental basis and other ways.
The miscreants are also collecting weapons from gunrunners who smuggle those from abroad into the country.
The report also mentioned that miscreants maintain close relations with dishonest officers in the police, Ansar and armed forces, and collect firearms from the armories of these agencies.
A quarter is also collecting firearms by showing fake licenses.
Besides, firearms are sourced from authorized rifle or shooting clubs through corrupt officers and employees, the report adds.
During their investigation, the intelligence agency also found that a section of authorised traders are facilitating firearms and ammunition to the criminals.
The intelligence report observes that the use of illegal firearms should be prevented to maintain the law and order situation in the capital. “Buying and selling firearms from authorised vendors or dealers should be monitored regularly to reduce the use of illegal firearms in the capital,” the report says.
There are 19 authorised firearms sellers or dealers, one repairing shops two repairing shops-cum-sales centre in Dhaka city.
About collecting firearms from authorised dealers by showing fake arms license, the report said one Wahidul Islam Chowdhury under the jurisdiction of Kabirhat Police Station in Noakhali (License No 28/Noa/2000) bought 375 bullets (O.22 bore) from authorized arms dealer M/S S Noman and Sons located at Topkhana Road on different dates between June and July in 2012.
After investigation, the intelligence agency found that the license fake and no person named Wahidul Islam Chowdhury was found at that Noakhali address. Later, on June 13 last year, the intelligence agency submitted a report to the Home Ministry in this regard.
The intelligence agency has made five recommendations to control the collection of firearms against fake licenses.
The recommendations included, formulating specific policy to sell or buy firearms, establishing online communication system connecting all district magistrate offices to verify the authentication of licenses by the arms dealers, preserving the photocopy of licenses during selling or buying arms, informing all the authorised dealers when a license is cancelled or suspended and also ensuring inspection of authorised arms shops by assigned police officers.
Home Ministry sources said they have already started updating the list of legal license holders. Besides, they have taken steps to create a data base so that no one can buy firearms using a fake license.
Contacted, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan said prompt steps will be taken if any incident of firearms collection using fake licenses is noticed.
Asked about the recommendation made by the intelligence report for establishing online communication system connecting all district magistrate offices, he said the online system will be launched very soon.
Source: UNBConnect
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