Police have arrested six people, including a woman, during a special operation in the remote Badrakhali area of Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, and recovered three locally made firearms, 760 rounds of ammunition and a large quantity of equipment allegedly used to manufacture weapons.
Police said the suspects had allegedly been involved for a long time in making and trading locally produced firearms and supplying weapons on rent to robbery gangs.
Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid at around 9pm on Sunday (September 13) in West Hunyapara of Badrakhali Union under Chakaria Police Station. Because the area is remote, hilly and sparsely populated, law enforcement personnel had to walk nearly two kilometres to reach the location.
Police disclosed details of the operation at a press conference on Monday (September 14).
During the first raid, police arrested alleged shooter Rajib, alleged robber Nami, alleged robber Jashu, alleged shooter Sagar and Johura Begum. A double-barrel rifle, a single-barrel rifle, a shotgun, 77 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, along with various tools and materials for manufacturing locally made weapons, were recovered from them.
Based on information provided by the arrested suspects, police subsequently conducted a second raid in Holkatapara. A woman named Shahor Banu was arrested there, and police searched a pond behind her house.
Police recovered another 685 rounds of rifle ammunition from a specially concealed location in the pond area. In total, 760 rounds of ammunition and a substantial quantity of weapons-making equipment were recovered during the two operations.
Police alleged that the arrested individuals had long been involved in manufacturing and selling locally made weapons in the area. They were also allegedly renting out such weapons to different robbery groups.
Authorities are investigating allegations that the weapons were used in organised robberies in various areas of the Chattogram Division.
Law enforcement officials said arms traders had allegedly been using the area's remoteness and isolation to conduct their activities for a long time. The recovery of such a large quantity of ammunition has also raised fresh questions about the stockpiles of weapons held by local criminal networks.
Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Arifur Rahman said separate cases had been filed against the arrested individuals over allegations related to illegal arms possession and preparation for robbery.
He said the investigation was underway to determine the source of the recovered weapons and ammunition and identify others involved in the alleged network.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammad Abdul Aziz of Chakaria Circle said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police A.N.M Sajedur Rahman.
He said police maintain a zero-tolerance policy against arms and drugs and that operations would continue to bring those involved in criminal activities under the law.
