Gun grips loosened

The government, which imposed a restriction on issuance of new licences for firearms, has decided to relax the restriction and issue licence to people of certain categories.

It has also relaxed the process of transferring a licence or changing its type, subject to proper investigation on whether the applicants really need firearms.

Sources at the home ministry said that a decision has been taken to issue firearms licence to the people having the rank and status of a minister, secretary to the government or a major general, and those who pay a minimum of Tk two lakh as income tax per year.

People in those categories will get licence when they apply for it. Earlier, the government stopped issuing new licence, as several thousand licences had been issued against fake addresses in the past.

Sources said the government has instructed the department concerned to verify the authenticity of the addresses given by the applicants, the applicants' financial status, and whether they need firearms.

Officials said the government has also relaxed the rules of transfer. As per the new provisions, a person having a licence can transfer it if she or he is not physically fit to operate firearms-- to a nominated member of the family.

A decision has also been taken to ease the process of transferring the licence in case of death of the licence-holder.

A person can get a new licence in the event of the licence being damaged or found faulty. A person having a valid licence can also change its type for buying a new weapon.

The home ministry has been authorised to approve the applications for licences.

Sources said the ministry of home sent a circular to this effect to the deputy commissioners and others concerned on December 31.

Meanwhile, the government has decided that firearms holders can renew their licences without fine within one month of getting back their arms and ammunitions. The decision was taken as people deposited their arms following a government directive.

Officials said many owners of firearms could not renew their licences as their arms and ammunitions remained deposited, when the last date of licence renewal expired.