1,400 stolen firearms, 2.5 lakh rounds of ammo yet to be recovered: CA’s special assistant

Following the 5 August mass uprising, the recovery of nearly 1,400 stolen firearms and 2.5 lakh rounds of ammunition is still pending, and the deputy commissioners have been instructed to assist in this matter, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz said today (18 February).

After the session on the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Division at the ongoing Deputy Commissioners' (DC) Conference at Osmani Memorial Hall, he shared the information with the media.

Abdul Hafiz said, "These weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists and be used by them. Authoritarian forces and their associates are gathering in various places, which could lead the country into chaos. We need to remain vigilant about this."

When asked by journalists whether any further operations were ordered following the Operation Devil Hunt, he responded, "Almost 6,000 weapons were looted. This means that more than three-fourths of the looted weapons are still missing. Of the six lakh bullets, 2.5 lakh have not been recovered yet."

"This means a significant number have been recovered. The remaining ones will likely be recovered through ongoing operations," he said.

He further said the deputy commissioners have been instructed to prepare for challenges related to controlling commodity prices, addressing potential electricity shortages, and ensuring irrigation and agricultural supplies for farmers during the upcoming Ramadan.

The Special Assistant to the CA said that during the DC Conference, the issue of the terrorist activities conducted by the Kuki-Chin National Front in the Chattogram Hill Tracts was raised, as such terrorist activities have disrupted the tourism industry in several districts.

"This disruption in the tourism industry is causing the young generation in the region to lose jobs and turn toward terrorism. Questions were raised on how to address this issue and find a way out," he said.

When asked about the situation with Kuki-Chin, he replied, "The operation against the Kuki-Chin is ongoing, and so far, we have lost seven soldiers, with many others injured, during the operation. The operation will continue until they are completely eliminated."

In response to a question, he said, "There is an increase in terrorist activities in six unions of Narsingdi's char areas, where people are being killed. They [DCs] are requesting a special operation in those areas to deal with this situation."