10,000 Licensed Firearms Yet to Be Surrendered

Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was speaking to journalists on Wednesday after a meeting related to the Home Ministry at the concluding day of a four-day Deputy Commissioners’ conference.

Around 10,000 licensed firearms have not yet been returned to the authorities despite official instructions, Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said, raising concerns about compliance and public safety.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after a meeting related to the Home Ministry at the concluding day of a four-day Deputy Commissioners’ conference held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, the adviser said directives have been issued to recover the unreturned weapons, confiscate them, and initiate legal proceedings where necessary.

According to him, instructions had earlier been sent to field-level authorities during the interim government period, asking all licence holders to deposit their firearms. However, reports from across the country indicate that a significant number—estimated at around 10,000—remain unaccounted for.

He added that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have now been urged to intensify efforts to trace these অস্ত্র, ensure their seizure, and take legal action against those failing to comply. Authorities have also been asked to provide updates on progress, including how many firearms have been recovered, confiscated, or remain outstanding.

The adviser further noted that a district-level review process had already been initiated to examine firearm licences issued between January 2009 and August 5, 2024. These licences are being scrutinised to determine whether they were granted on political grounds or in violation of established policies.

Officials say the ongoing drive is part of a broader effort to strengthen oversight of licensed weapons and ensure that arms are held only by eligible individuals under lawful conditions.