One year on, 156 firearms looted from Ctg police stations still missing
Police say many of the missing firearms have started turning up in the hands of criminals.
One year after violent attacks on police stations across Chattogram, 156 stolen firearms remain unaccounted for, raising concerns among law enforcement about rising armed crimes.
The unrest broke out on 5 August last year during the student and public uprising, triggered by reports that then prime minister Sheikh Hasina had fled the country. Crowds initially took to the streets in celebration, but by evening, groups turned to attacking police stations and outposts across the city.
According to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) records, police stations, including Kotwali, Double Mooring, Pahartali, Patenga, Sadarghat, EPZ, and Halishahar, were set ablaze. Hundreds of vehicles were torched, arsenals looted, and furniture stolen. The Bandar and Karnaphuli stations were also vandalised. Outnumbered cops fled to save their lives.
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CMP data shows that a total of 945 firearms were stolen by unknown attackers. These included 105 Chinese 7.62mm rifles, 62 Chinese 7.62mm submachine guns, one 7.62mm light machine gun, 45 Chinese 7.62mm pistols, 95 9mm Taurus pistols, 15 9mm CZ pistols, 414 12-bore shotguns, 203 single-shot 38mm gas guns, and five six-shot 38mm gas guns. So far, 789 of these weapons have been recovered.
Nine cases were filed over arson and looting. Case documents estimate the total damage at Tk25 crore. While Kotwali's fire-damaged rooms have been repaired, furniture remains scarce. Double Mooring and Pahartali police stations are also yet to fully resume normal operations.
Police say many of the missing firearms have started turning up in the hands of criminals. Some looters kept them, while others sold them.
On 21 March, six people — including a police constable — were arrested for selling stolen weapons. Two foreign pistols were recovered.
Earlier, on 3 March, two Jamaat activists were killed in a mob beating in the Eochia union of Satkania. A foreign pistol found at the scene was confirmed by Chattogram district Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam to have been looted from Kotwali police station.
On 18 June, police recovered a 7.62mm pistol, four live rounds, and an empty magazine from professional mugger Saidur Rahman Masum, known as Blade Masum. CMP Deputy Commissioner (West) Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan said the weapon and ammunition had been used in several robberies and muggings.
On 26 June, police arrested Md Minhaj Uddin, also known as Nurunnabi Sagar, a suspect in multiple cases, from the CDA Market in Pahartali. He had a foreign revolver and six rounds of ammunition, traced back to the looted police stockpile. Double Mooring police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Babul Azad, former OC of Pahartali, said the revolver had been used in several muggings.
CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Mahmuda Begum said most stolen firearms have been recovered, and efforts continue to find the rest.
"We will not allow even one police firearm to stay in criminal hands," she said.
Police sources said recovering the remaining 156 weapons is essential to preventing further armed crimes in the city.
