The Bangladesh Army is intensifying operations and bolstering surveillance to prevent illicit arms shipments from reaching Dhaka ahead of the upcoming elections, a senior military official has said.
Speaking at a press briefing at Army Headquarters on Wednesday, November 5, Lieutenant General Md Mainur Rahman, General Officer Commanding of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (GOC ArtDoc), said: “We must be fully prepared to ensure such shipments do not reach the capital – and if any do, we are ready to respond decisively.”
His remarks followed a journalist’s question about the potential for arms trafficking to disrupt the electoral process. The General referenced a major seizure on October 26, when a joint operation involving the army, intelligence agencies, and railway police intercepted a consignment on the Banalata Express at Dhaka’s Airport Railway Station.
The operation uncovered eight foreign-made pistols, 16 magazines, 26 rounds of ammunition, 2.39 kg of gunpowder, and 2.23 kg of plastic explosives hidden in a compartment of the train arriving from Rajshahi.
“We are certainly concerned about recent attempts to smuggle weapons into Dhaka,” Lt Gen Mainur acknowledged. “But the successful interception itself is a significant achievement. It shows our systems are working.”
He stressed that surveillance and operational readiness would be further strengthened. “We are not the only agency responsible for national security—I am confident other state organs are also taking necessary measures. Our collective preparedness is key.”
When questioned about instability in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the General expressed concern about possible arms movement from the region to Dhaka. “Recent incidents in Kharachhari and Rangamati, along with ongoing low-level unrest in Bandarban, raise legitimate questions,” he said. “If weapons are being channelled from the hills to the capital, that is deeply troubling and demands scrutiny.”
Addressing the broader law and order situation, Lt Gen Mainur noted that the past 15 months have seen long-suppressed public grievances come to the fore. “Emotions that could not be expressed, and concerns that went unheard for years, are now being voiced openly,” he said. “During that period, many state institutions had become partially ineffective – that is the reality.”
He defended the army’s extensive non-military duties during this time, which have included flood relief in Cumilla and Noakhali, safeguarding police stations, managing traffic, and supporting various government agencies – despite limited manpower.
“This is not the core function of a 40,000-50,000-strong force,” he emphasised. “Yet our personnel have performed with dedication and professionalism. It is difficult to imagine how much worse the situation might have become without the army’s presence.”
Regarding military exercises by countries bordering Bangladesh, the General adopted a measured stance. “Military training is an internal matter for any sovereign state, and we have no reason for alarm,” he said. “However, as a neighbour, we assess such developments not in isolation but in the context of the wider regional security environment – which involves more than just Bangladesh. We too conduct drills when necessary. It is best to view these matters with balanced perspective.”