Pen gun — a new addition to Dhaka’s crime world
This disguised firearm, widely known as a “pen gun,” has recently surfaced in Dhaka and was used in an attempted assassination of a Jubo Dal leader in Old Dhaka
Slim and almost indistinguishable from a metallic pen, it features a push-button at the top and a pointed tip. But instead of ink, a twist of the tip and a press of the button can fire .22 calibre bullets. There is no ink chamber inside – only ammunition.
This disguised firearm, widely known as a "pen gun," has recently surfaced in Dhaka and was used in an attempted assassination of a Jubo Dal leader in Old Dhaka.
There are also reports of extremist groups in south-western region using such guns.
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Law enforcers say the device marks a troubling development in the capital's already strained criminal landscape. Due to its compact size and ease of concealment, detecting such a weapon is extremely difficult until it is fired.
Police recovered a pen gun on 3 April while investigating a daylight shooting in Nayabazar. A team from the Lalbagh Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) arrested two suspects – Sohel alias Kallu and Simon – and seized the weapon. Investigators are now trying to trace its origin and possible smuggling routes.
Last year in April, a businessman in Khulna was killed with a similar pen gun, according to a TV report.
Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) Police Joint Commissioner (South) Md Nasirul Islam said, "We had been conducting a shadow investigation since the incident [in Nayabazar]. Simon was arrested first in Jatrabari, followed by Kallu in Keraniganj. The weapon recovered from Kallu turned out to be a pen gun," he said.
He added that the discovery raised serious concern. "This is not a conventional firearm. There is no prior record of such a weapon being used in Dhaka. Multiple teams are now working to determine how it entered the country, who smuggled it, and whether it has been used elsewhere."
The victim, Jubo Dal leader Russell, was shot on 3 April after being lured to a house in Nayabazar. According to his family, he had been called there by acquaintances. After the shooting, the same individuals took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later to a private hospital in Dhanmondi.
Investigators later found that the weapon had been hidden inside a cigarette packet. Police suspect it may have been smuggled from India or Pakistan. One of the arrested suspects reportedly told investigators the weapon was purchased for Tk80,000 and intended for resale at a profit. Authorities believe the shooting may have stemmed from an altercation during drug use.
A pen gun is a small firearm designed to resemble an ordinary pen. Typically capable of firing .22 or .25 calibre rounds, it is often single-shot. Earlier versions used pinfire systems, while modern designs rely on rimfire or centre-fire cartridges.
According to DB officials, the recovered weapon bears no identifiable manufacturer markings, making it difficult to trace. "There are also reports of such weapons being used by extremist groups in south-western regions, including Khulna," an official said.
