Gun magazine found in Adviser Asif’s bag at airport; unintentionally packed, he clarifies

Regarding the magazine of a gun found in his bag at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today (29 June), LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has explained that it was packed in his luggage unintentionally.

His clarification came through a post on his Facebook profile late this evening after media reports on the matter surfaced.

In the post, Asif wrote, "I own a licensed firearm for safety reasons. Considering the multiple assassination attempts on the leadership of the mass uprising, it's only natural to keep it. When there is no government protocol or security detail, I keep this licensed weapon solely to ensure the safety of myself and my family."

"I had a flight at 6:50am today to participate in the 'OIC Youth Capital International Programme' in Marrakesh, Morocco. While packing in the early morning, although I left the firearm and one magazine behind, another magazine mistakenly remained in my bag. When it appeared during scanning, I handed it over to my protocol officer. The matter was entirely unintentional.

"What could I possibly do with just a magazine? If I had any ill intentions, I certainly wouldn't have left the weapon behind," he said in the post after the news started making rounds on social media.

Although there was nothing illegal in this case, this has become a topic of gossip for many, he added.

The adviser also dismissed allegations that he pressured people to remove the news, calling it completely false. "After this incident, my team and I were on a flight for 10 straight hours. It was only much later during the transit, when I went online, that I saw everything that had happened."

"As a citizen, if you too face security risks, you can get a firearm licence by following the proper legal procedures," Asif wrote, ending the post.

Citing Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) regulations, Dhaka airport officials said carrying an ammunition magazine in cabin baggage is prohibited.

Officials said no further action was necessary as the adviser was found to have a valid gun licence.

According to the Firearms Licensing, Renewal and Usage Policy, 2016, any physically and mentally fit eligible/qualified person between the ages of 30 and 70 may be granted a firearms licence upon application.

Applicants seeking a licence for a pistol, revolver, or rifle must have consistently paid a minimum of Tk3 lakh in income tax in each of the three tax years preceding their application.

However, Section 32 of the policy exempts individuals holding different ranks –  including the speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers, and lawmakers – from the income tax and age requirements to obtain a firearms licence.