Though the government had set September 3 as the deadline to surrender licensed firearms three former Awami League (AL) lawmakers and other AL leaders in Chattogram have not yet deposited those.
The former MPs are Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, Abu Reza Mohammad Nezam Uddin Nadvi and Khadijatul Anwar Soni elected from Chattogram 15, 16 and 2 seats respectively.
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August, many AL leaders and activists went into hiding and some fled the country and so they could not surrender their licensed arms, said some AL leaders preferring anonymity.
According to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), there were 454 licensed firearms under 16 police stations. Of these, 361 have been surrendered to various police stations within the stipulated time.
However, 93 firearms haven’t been surrendered yet. Moreover there were 388 licensed firearms in the district's various police stations and 335 of which were surrendered and 53 still missing.
It was learned that former lawmaker Mostafizur was criticized for brandishing his licensed firearms to intimidate the public. He had licenses for a single-barrel gun and a pistol. Despite the directive to surrender arms by September 3, he did not comply with.
Expressing concern over the security threat, locals urged the authorities concerned to immediately recover the firearms and take legal action against Mostafizur.
Another former MP Nadvi has two licensed firearms—a shotgun and a pistol which have not been surrendered yet.
Former lawmaker Khadijatul Anwar is also on the list of those who failed to submit weapons.
Moreover, recently arrested former lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury’s son Faraz Karim Chowdhury also failed to surrender his arms within the deadline, said Raozan Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Zahid Hossain.
A police source said except the mentioned AL leaders, several prominent figures have also failed to surrender their arms. They are- Mujibul Haque Chowdhury, chairman of Chhambul union in Banshkhali upazila, who had threatened former US Ambassador Peter Haas and has not surrendered his single-barrel gun.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Abu Tayeb Md Arif Hossain and CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said that most firearms were surrendered within the deadline.
Firearms which were issued to specific police stations but not surrendered there are being tracked and joint forces are conducting operations to recover the arms. Legal action will be taken against the offenders, they informed.
