Bangladesh Struggles to Recover 1500 Looted Guns; Yunus Government Launches Reward Campaign

In Bangladesh, the whereabouts of approximately 1500 dangerous firearms that were looted during violent protests amid Sheikh Hasina’s rule remain unknown even after a year. These weapons, taken from police stations across Dhaka and surrounding areas during unrest in 2024, have reportedly fallen into the hands of notorious criminals, making their recovery a major challenge for law enforcement under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's interim government.

According to reports, a total of about 5,818 weapons and over 67,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen during the upheaval that culminated in Hasina’s ouster on August 5, 2024. While the army and police forces have recovered around 6,000 firearms through operations and amnesties, over 2,000 weapons remain unaccounted for, including about 700 firearms still missing as per recent official statements.

The police formed a special recovery unit after Yunus’s administration took office, but efforts so far have not been sufficient to trace all looted guns. Authorities fear these weapons could be used to rig the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 2026, as the preparatory process begins in December 2025.

To accelerate recovery, Bangladesh Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has announced plans to offer monetary rewards for credible information leading to the return of these firearms. The government is also launching an extensive publicity campaign to encourage public cooperation in this drive.

Security forces, including military, police, paramilitary, and other units, continue search operations across the country with urgency given the nearing elections. The recovery of these looted arms remains vital to restoring law and order and preventing misuse of weapons during the politically sensitive period ahead.

In summary, while significant progress has been made in reclaiming looted weapons since the 2024 upheaval, the challenge remains daunting. The Yunus-led interim government is intensifying efforts and incentivizing public assistance to retrieve the remaining dangerous firearms before Bangladesh heads to the polls early next year.