http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2004-03-02&hidType=TOP&hidRecord=0000000000000000002513
Top Stories
Tuesday March 02 2004 13:27:51 PM BDT
NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL, CHITTAGONG
Mar 1: The law enforcing agencies are learnt to have prepared a
preliminary report on arms smuggling in Chittagong. The agencies were
concerned about arms smuggling into the country and trying to find out
the routes used by the smugglers. The home ministry ordered officials of
law enforcing agencies in Chittagong to prepare the report in December
last year.
According to the sources, the government is concerned about the
situation and would take special measures to stop smuggling of arms into
the country. The port city of Chittagong and its adjoining areas
particularly the hill districts of Banderban and Khagrachhari and resort
town of Cox's Bazar are being used by the underworld as the major
transit point for smuggling of weapons in recent time, informed sources
said.
A team of experts from the US is expected to visit the port city from
tomorrow to enquire about the routes of illegal weapons and to get an
overview of the situation. The team will also visit the adjoining areas
of Chittagong particularly hill districts of Banderban and Khagrachhari
and the resort town of Cox's Bazar. The home ministry ordered the law
enforcing agencies to help the team during the visit.
Sources said, the team will help the police to prepare a final report in
this regard and give necessary advice on measures to be taken to curb
arms smuggling.
At a meeting of the law and order committee of Chittagong, the Commerce
Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury directed the law enforcing
agencies to prepare a fresh list of terrorists, extortionists, drug
traffickers and arms smugglers and other criminals active in the region.
Sources said, the officials concerned informed the meeting that there
were many illegal firearms including sophisticated weapons in the
possession of terrorists in Banshkhali, Mirswarai, Hathazari,
Fatikchhari, Raozan and 12 thana areas in the port city.
Sources said, the police officials informed the meeting that the illegal
weapons move from one hand to another and from one spot to another
making it difficult to keep track of the criminals or recover the
firearms.
According to the sources, Rohinga and Arakanese groups are mainly
involved in the illegal trade in arms. About 60 km of border along
Teknaf under Cox's Bazar district, which remains unprotected and
inaccessible, is one of the main routes for arms smuggling. The
criminals sneak into Bangladesh territory with arms eluding the border
guards easily. They supply the arms to local criminals. They also
maintain several 'offices' in Chittagong, Khagrachhari, Banderban, Cox's
Bazar and even in capital Dhaka to make contact with local underworld,
sources said.
Sources said, at least 37 illegal arms smuggling syndicates are active
in Chittagong. Some 50 thousand illegal firearms including several
hundred sophisticated weapons like AK-47, AK-56, M-16, SMG, SMC with a
huge stock of ammunition are believed to be in the possession of the
underworld in Chittagong. There are also local workshops manufacturing
illegal arms here.
A number of godfathers including the political heavyweights are
controlling the underworld.
Sea is another route used by the smugglers to bring illegal arms in the
port city from various countries.
Police sources said, they recovered about 12 illegal arms manufacturing
workshops with huge weapons and arms manufacturing equipments over the
last two years.
Reliable sources said, several armed terror groups are active in the
CHT. One of the outfits, Bengal Tiger Force (BTF) was formed in the
region two years ago. Two new organisations have recently, started their
activities in the CHT particularly in Banderban. The new armed outfits
are known as Democratic Peoples of Arakan (DPA) and Arakan Army (AA).
DPA is involved in smuggling of arms in CHT, sources said.
Police recovered huge ammunition and bullets of AK-47 rifle and M-16
rifle from two tribal terrorists identified as Franker Tripura (30) and
Sharma Tripura (28) from the port city Chittagong on February 26 last.
The arrested persons claimed that they are members of National
Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). The arrested persons gave important
information about the arms smugglers and their activities to the police
during their five- day remand, said sources.
Police arrested a top terrorist and Shibir cadre Enamul Haque alias
Enamya and his associate Faridul Alam alias Faridya from Satkania in the
district on December 25 last. According to the statement of the arrested
Enamya police recovered one AK47 with bullets and magzine.
Police also arrested a cadre of the notorious "Didar Bahini" of
Fatikchhari identified as Md Alamgir alias Jamai Alamgir (35) with 353
rounds of bullet of AK-47 from Sunderpur area under Fatikchhari upazila
in the district on November 11.
Tne Indpendent
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