Bangladesh Police Struggle to Recover Looted Weapons Amid Election Concerns

According to the Ittefaq newspaper, the looted weapons have been distributed to dangerous criminals in Bangladesh, making it difficult for the police to retrieve them. Authorities fear these weapons could be used to manipulate the upcoming elections. Following the Yunus interim government’s formation, a special unit was created to recover the weapons, but it has been unsuccessful. On August 5, 2024, the day of Hasina’s ouster, approximately 5,818 different types of weapons and 67,262 cartridges were stolen from various police stations across the country. With general elections scheduled for February 2026, the government has less than three months to recover the weapons.