Arms, ammo made in China

The arms and ammunition seized from the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited jetty on April 2, 2004 were made in China and appeared to be new, said a prosecution witness of the two ten-truck arms haul cases yesterday.
On whether those examined for the origin were the ones seized, the witness, Brig Gen Hasan Mahmud Tayebur Rahman, said the seized items and relevant documents were kept at Ordnance Depot of Chittagong Area Headquarter of Bangladesh Army.
Tayebur gave his deposition and was cross-examined by the defence lawyers before Judge SM Mujibur Rahman of Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tribunal-1.
The seizure includes 1,290 pieces of two models of submachine guns and 7,39,000 bullets; 150 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers and 2,000 RPGs; 400 9mm semi-automatic sporting rifles; 100 tommy guns and 4 lakh bullets; 24,996 hand grenades and 840 40mm rockets.
Tayebur said the markings on 11 types of arms and four types of ammunition were examined on July 31, 2008 and then checked with websites and publications specialising in military topics.
The investigation was conducted by a three-member committee of ordnance specialists, led by him and formed by Chittagong Area Headquarter, he said.
An assistant superintendent of police of Criminal Investigation Department of Dhaka had requested the Army Headquarter to find the origin following a court order in 2008, he added.