The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has arrested Arif Hossain, alias Mehedi Hasan, the ringleader of the infamous “Mehedi Group,” along with a foreign-made pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition. According to police sources, the weapon recovered from him was originally looted from CMP’s Double Mooring Police Station and had been used by the gang in numerous criminal activities across the city.
This incident has once again drawn attention to the large number of firearms looted from police stations. On August 5 of last year—the day the Awami League government was overthrown in a student-led uprising—12 police stations in Chattogram, like many others across the country, were attacked, vandalized, looted, and set on fire. On that day, at least 945 firearms and 44,000 rounds of ammunition were looted from these police stations.
According to CMP sources, of the looted weapons, 783 have so far been recovered. However, 162 firearms are still unaccounted for and believed to be in criminal hands. Residents fear these weapons are now being used in crimes such as robbery, muggings, and theft. The lack of visible, large-scale operations by law enforcement to recover these weapons has only increased public concern.
Earlier, on March 1, police arrested two members of a mugging gang from the Rani Rasmoni Ghat area of Pahartali with a revolver and six rounds of ammunition—also confirmed to be looted from a police station. On March 5, a pistol recovered next to a body in Satkania was found to be one of the weapons looted from the Kotwali Police Station.
Law enforcement officials admit that, apart from the stolen police firearms, criminals also possess illegal weapons acquired from various sources. Police say they remain active in curbing crime and that efforts to recover the remaining weapons are ongoing.
However, the fact that so many weapons remain missing and are now being used in crimes has raised deep concerns among Chattogram’s citizens.
Human rights lawyer Zia Habib Ahsan remarked, “After the August 5 incident, we had hoped that the joint forces’ ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ would recover all illegal arms. In reality, that hasn’t happened. Instead, these weapons have ended up in the hands of criminals, posing a serious threat to public safety.” He also warned that the stolen weapons, now with political thugs, robbers, and muggers, could jeopardize the security of the electoral environment. “To ensure free and fair elections, an immediate and aggressive arms recovery operation is essential,” he said.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (Crime), Md. Raich Uddin, confirmed, “During the uprising, 945 weapons were looted. So far, 783 have been recovered. Efforts to retrieve the remaining weapons are ongoing.” It is noteworthy that, on August 5, amid celebratory victory rallies following the fall of the government, coordinated attacks and looting took place simultaneously at 12 police stations across Chattogram.
