All illegal weapons will be recovered before elections: Home Affairs Adviser

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh are intensifying efforts to retrieve illegal weapons, including those looted during the July uprising, as the country prepares for upcoming elections.

Lt. Gen. (retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Home Affairs Adviser to the interim government, emphasised that all remaining weapons will be recovered promptly.

He made the statements during visits to the RAB-11 headquarters in Narayanganj and the Narayanganj Police Lines on Saturday.

Commenting on recent border activities, Chowdhury noted a decline in "push-in" incidents from India, with 1,500 Bangladeshi citizens repatriated over the past month.

He clarified, "We will accept our citizens, even after many years, but we reject the manner in which Rohingyas are being pushed in—they are being sent back."

He criticised India for repatriating citizens improperly, often leaving them at riverbanks or in jungles, and noted that protests have been lodged, yielding some progress.

Addressing a recent robbery in Mohammadpur, he informed that four suspects have been identified, three have been arrested, and stolen phones recovered.

He assured that the investigation is ongoing, and neither the culprits nor any negligent officials will be spared.

At the Narayanganj Police Lines, after visiting RAB-11 headquarters in Siddhirganj’s Adamjigar area, Chowdhury told reporters that while not all weapons have been recovered, they will be secured before the elections. He urged political parties to play a significant role in this effort.

He also called on journalists to report impartially to dispel confusion, stating, "Political parties will participate in the elections, and our duty is to ensure their security."

Regarding cases related to the July uprising, Jahangir Chowdhury said investigations are advancing, though delays have occurred due to the deliberate inclusion of many individuals in indictments. He stressed that measures are in place to prevent harassment of innocent people.

Accompanying the Home Affairs Adviser were Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Dhaka Range DIG Rezaul Karim Mallick, and Narayanganj District Superintendent of Police Pratyush Majumdar.