Army seizes over 1,100 sharp weapons in Dhaka’s New Market raid, 9 arrested
The seized items include more than a thousand samurai swords, machetes, Chinese axes, local axes, knives, and meat hammers
The Bangladesh Army has recovered more than 1,100 sharp weapons, including samurai swords, machetes, Chinese axes, local axes, knives, and meat hammers, in a raid in Dhaka's New Market area.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the illegal trade.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Mohammadpur army camp near Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College at around 11pm, Lieutenant Colonel Nazim Uddin Ahmed, commander of the "Daring Tigers," said, "We received information that these weapons were being supplied from a particular source to criminals and secretly sold. Some were even being rented out or home-delivered."
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He said that they confirmed the locations through intelligence work over the past several days after receiving information that the weapons were being supplied to criminals.
The operation was carried out last night (9 August) by a team from the army's 46 Independent Infantry Brigade's "Daring Tigers" unit, based on intelligence reports that the weapons were being secretly sold, rented out, and even delivered free of charge to "kishore gangs" (teen gangs) and other criminal groups.
The raid was carried out in three to four shops, namely Rokon's Momtaz Traders, Hridoy Mia's Shakil Crockeries, and Shwapon's Three Dot Crockeries.
According to army sources, the recovered weapons were found hidden in secret compartments.
The arrested individuals are: Rokonuzzaman, Rabbi, Roman, Ali Akbar, Sajid Hasan, Ali, Hridoy Mia, Nur Hossain, and Md Swhapon.
Lt Col Nazim said the army has observed for several months that such locally made weapons are widely stockpiled and increasingly used by criminal groups.
"Weapons like these are often seen in kishore gang showdowns. A coordinated syndicate is supplying them to criminals," he said.
Urging the business community to stop selling such weapons, he added, "Do not sell samurai swords, machetes or other sharp weapons. While some collect them as souvenirs, in reality, they are being used by criminal groups, putting ordinary people at risk. This trend must be stopped by any means."
He expressed his determination to curb teen gang violence, saying, "Inshallah, we will put an end to kishore gangs. If anyone around you is engaged in the illegal trade of sharp weapons, inform the nearest army camp. With everyone's combined efforts, this problem can be solved."
