Public display of licensed firearms keeps recurring: no punishment in 11 incidents over six years, not one licence cancelled
Amid controversy over a firearms incident, Dhaka-6 MP Ishraq Hossain has left his post as state minister on the Prime Minister's instruction. But the incident is not isolated. Over the past six years, people linked to politics, including former MPs, have unlawfully displayed licensed firearms in public at least ten times; no punitive action was taken against anyone, and although such conduct makes a licence cancellable, not one was cancelled.
Experts say the absence of punishment and licence cancellation in earlier cases of unlawful display of licensed weapons is a major reason such incidents do not stop. In most cases, discussion and criticism faded after police investigations found no deviation.
The latest display was by Ishraq Hossain. Last Saturday he took part in an anti-drug drive in Gendaria, Dhaka, with a firearm in hand. Facing criticism, he resigned on Monday as state minister for liberation war affairs on the Prime Minister's instruction. He claims he drew his licensed weapon for self-defence. At a press conference on Monday he said he decided to resign voluntarily after discussing it with the Prime Minister.
Police say an investigation is under way into firearms being carried by Ishraq and his companions during the anti-drug drive. At the DMP Media Centre on Sunday, Additional Commissioner (Detective) Shafiqul Islam said the deputy commissioner of Wari division had been tasked with investigating; action would be taken if evidence of a legal deviation is found.
Under the Home Ministry's Firearms Licensing, Renewal and Use Policy 2025, a licensed weapon may be used for self-defence. But it may not be displayed in a way that causes fear or annoyance to others. Violating this condition makes the licence cancellable.
On February 28 this year, local BNP leader Abu Taher posed with a shotgun in hand while visiting an injured party worker at Saidpur in Sitakunda, Chattogram. When the photo spread on social media on March 2, criticism followed. Taher said he kept the weapon for his own security. On March 3 Sitakunda Model Police said the weapon was licensed; no action was taken against him. Officer-in-charge Mahinul Islam said the weapon had been deposited at the police station after August 5, 2024, and he collected it that very day; he had not used it to frighten anyone and there was no major legal deviation.
Then on August 17 in Ishwardi, Pabna, former Chhatra Dal leader Zubayer Hossain Bappy staged a show with a licensed weapon, a burial shroud cloth tied around his head. Police seized his weapon and detained him, then released him. No legal action was taken; the police station did not even send a report to the deputy commissioner to cancel his licence despite the breach of conditions. Ishwardi officer-in-charge Mostafizur Rahman said the weapon is legal and has been deposited; beyond that they took no further process.
During the previous interim government, on June 29, 2025, a bullet magazine was found in the bag of then adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The matter went no further.
Such incidents also occurred several times under the ousted Awami League government. On May 22, 2023, in Banshkhali, the party's then MP Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury joined a procession with a firearm after a rally; police sought an explanation saying the licence was valid, but it was not cancelled. On June 6 the same year in Boalmari, Krishak League leader Golam Kabir was accused of displaying a weapon in a dispute over house rent; police seized the weapon but returned it after investigation.
On October 31, 2023, during garment workers' protests in Pallabi, Jubo League leader Aolad Hossain alias Lakku was seen with a firearm; he held licences for two weapons, yet no action followed. In November 2024 in Nandail, Kamruzzaman, known as bodyguard to former MP Abdus Salam's son-in-law, joined a procession with a weapon; no action was taken against him either. In December 2023 in Kathalia, former MP Shahjahan Omar's licensed gun was in the hands of local BNP leader Abdul Jalil Miazi at an election rally; the election inquiry committee issued Shahjahan Omar a show-cause notice but police took no action. In a wedding shooting incident in Bheramara and in the case of a photo of then Bogura-7 MP Rezaul Karim Bablu holding a firearm, no one faced action and no licence was cancelled.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Omar Faruk said holding a licence does not mean permission to display a weapon publicly in any situation. To stop this, rule of law, justice and accountability must be ensured, and who receives licences needs careful scrutiny. Carrying a weapon for self-defence and displaying it in public to create panic are not the same thing.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime) Mohammad Osman Gani said that if a licence holder anywhere violates conditions, they report it to the deputy commissioner, who takes action accordingly. Asked whether police would file a report in Ishraq's case, he said he did not yet know of a decision on that.
According to the police Special Branch, there are 53,702 firearms licences nationwide in the names of individuals, institutions and financial institutions — 48,283 for individuals, 4,854 for financial institutions and 565 for various institutions. Politicians hold 14,235 licences, of which more than 11,000 belong to Awami League leaders and activists at various levels. In the Awami League government's three terms alone, from 2009 to 2024, a total of 19,594 licences were issued. After August 5, 2024, many did not deposit their weapons; the government has therefore begun cancelling licences issued in that era and seizing weapons. Ishraq's resignation may calm the controversy for now, but the question remains: will this case, like the previous ones, end with an investigation alone, or will the penalty for breaching licence conditions finally be enforced?
