Editorial
Proliferating small arms
Substantive plan of action needed
It does not need an expert to say that the use of illegal weapons is on the rise in the country. If one took stock of the casualties and deaths in the last six months from social violence, more than 90 percent are due to illegal weapons. But not only the recent casualties, the unfortunate consequences of diffusion of illegal weapons is only too evident in the form of the 21st August grenade attack on the then leader of the opposition. On the 6th anniversary of the incident it is even more important that the relevant agencies address the issue more earnestly that we have been given to understand.
The proliferation has gone on in a such an unbridled fashion that the situation demands of the government a deliberate and well thought out strategy to combat the menace. Over the years we have been highlighting the deleterious consequences to the society and the state of illegal small arms, but no substantive plan of action has been formulated as yet. Given that we are a signatory to the UN convention on prevention of SA&LW our inaction is indefensible.
No one has the exact figure of illegal weapons in circulation in the country, and perhaps it is not possible to exactly pin down the number, but that small arms have become arbiter of disputes and means of settling differences is blatantly demonstrated by the number of people that has fallen victim to illegal weapons in the last six months.
Without going into whether societal violence engenders proliferation or easy availability of weapons cause violence, it is important to look both at the demand and supply equation as well the geopolitical ambience that we live in. Bangladesh is an easy transit route for trafficking of small arms as well as drugs. But we are also the end user as evident from the incidents of violence in Bangladesh where small arms have been used and also from those captured from the terrorists and extremists groups.
It is also true that in Bangladesh, as indeed in the rest of the region, there is a symbiotic relationship between politics and small arms. Armed militant groups of various shades have easy access to these weapons. Political patronisation of the miscreants and armed groups in Bangladesh has become patently clear from the confessions of several leaders of hard core criminal groups who have been apprehended by the security forces from time to time.
However, the menace cannot be combated only by sporadic raids by the police in the capital and other metropolis. It would require a comprehensive approach. And given the trans-frontier linkages of the illegal arms dealers the menace cannot be tackled by Bangladesh alone. The international community, particularly the regional countries must pool resources if we were to make headway in preventing diffusion of illegal small arms.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
An alarming report on children’s exposure to climate risks
19 June 2026, 19:07 PM
Editorial
Why is safe water inaccessible for millions despite rising spending?
19 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
BB must confront bad loans’ true scale
18 June 2026, 18:38 PM
Editorial
Dolphin deaths must be investigated
18 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
Weak policing fuelling rise in crimes
17 June 2026, 18:18 PM
Editorial
Comments