Fears Over Illegal Weapons

There is growing concern about the widespread presence of illegal firearms. During the July mass uprising, leaders and activists of the Awami League allegedly opened fire on students and civilians using unlawful weapons. Many of those involved have yet to be arrested, and most of the firearms used in those incidents have not been recovered. In addition, a large number of police weapons were looted, raising fears that they may now be in the hands of professional criminals.

Osman Hadi was shot in the capital’s Bijoynagar area. During the Awami League’s time in power, there have been repeated incidents of politically motivated shootings and killings in and around areas such as Purana Paltan. For instance, Awami League leader Jahidul Islam, also known as Tipu, was shot dead in Shahjahanpur in 2022. In many of these cases, names of top figures from the local criminal underworld surfaced, along with allegations involving some Awami League and Jubo League leaders.

Since the July uprising, law enforcement agencies have made little visible progress in arresting armed criminals in these areas. Likewise, few influential Awami League leaders alleged to have links with the underworld have been detained.

Concerns have also intensified over the looted police weapons possibly falling into criminal hands. Reacting to the shooting of Osman Hadi, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman wrote on his Facebook page that the incident proves a large cache of weapons remains with known criminals. He said recovering illegal arms and arresting criminals is a top responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure a fair vote, warning that any leniency would render promises of a credible election meaningless.

Revised Security Measures

Amid the evolving situation, police authorities are reportedly overhauling their security strategy. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said preparations are being made with the upcoming national election in mind, noting that anti-election fugitive groups may attempt to create fear. He added that intelligence surveillance has been strengthened in response to the situation.

Addressing anxiety among political parties and candidates, the IGP said the attack on Osman Hadi is being investigated with the highest priority. He noted that if any candidate feels unsafe, measures to enhance personal security are being considered. In addition, both daytime and nighttime security plans are being reorganized to address emerging challenges.