Other seized firearms are one point 22 bore rifle, two 12-bore shotguns, and two assault rifles. Besides, the BDR seized 1,671 bullets, 1,275 of which are of AK47 rifle and 90 of M16 rifle.

On a tip-off, BDR jawans of 40 Naikkhong Battalion led by Commanding Officer Lt Col Hasinur Rahman launched the drive in the criminals' den and seized the arms and ammunition, BDR sources said.

The arms and ammunition were kept in a temporary place prior to sending those to different parts of the country, they added.

The BDR demolished the den, but could not arrest anyone in this connection.

In the last one and a half years, a total of 28 firearms including sophisticated AK47 and M16 rifles and a few thousand bullets were seized from the hilly district.

Law enforcers, in different earlier operations, recovered six AK47 and two 303 rifles, three shotguns, two pistols, 15 locally made guns, 576 grenades, 32 antitank and seven antipersonnel mines, 40 rocket-launchers and 20 bombs from the same upazila. They also seized 37 radio sets, 10 binoculars, 1,062 rounds of AK47 and 7,601 rounds of M16 rifles, 169 heavy machinegun shells, 99 rounds of SMG, 130kg plastic explosives, five packets of gunpowder and various other chemicals and materials used for bomb manufacturing.

Although huge firearms and explosives were seized, the criminals have always remained beyond dragnets. Allegations are there that the criminals could not be nabbed due to lack of coordination among different forces -- the army, BDR and police.