Verify firearm licences

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia has instructed police personnel to verify the licence of firearms used by different private security firms and security guards in their respective areas.

Asaduzzaman gave the order yesterday at a monthly crime conference at DMP headquarters amid recent media reports that an office assistant at Rangpur Deputy Commissioner's office issued more than 400 fake firearms licences forging documents and the DC's signature over the years.

“We have been asked to verify the firearms, especially those issued by the Rangpur DC's office and [the ones that] are currently being used in the capital,” said a deputy commissioner of police, who attended the programme. An officer-in-charge of a police station in Ramna Division said, “It is our rutine duty, and we will intensify it upon receiving the instruction as firearms with fake licences pose a security threat.”

Earlier on August 21, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained four gunmen of a residential hotel in the capital and seized many illegal firearms. The detainees admitted to Rab that they had collected the illegal firearms and fake licences to bargain for better pay.  

Asaduzzaman also directed the police to continue operations against the use of hydraulic horns in motor vehicles, and instructed them to carry out raids at shops selling the banned horns.

At the same time, the DMP boss urged police officials to ensure quality services at the police stations so that people do not feel harassed.