Arms Smuggling Across Bangladeshi Border Becomes RampantWith the parliamentary election drawing nearer smuggling of arms all along the eastern border of the Greater Rajshahi regions has become rampant, the Bangladesh Observer reported Monday.Demand for Indian arms like pistols, revolvers, pipe guns and rifles is very high as their prices are cheaper than other sophisticated foreign made arms. The fire arms from other countries are also being smuggled into the country through the region by the gunrunners. These arms are being supplied to terrorists and arms cadres of political parties of the country. They use the arms when there is any confrontation against each other in the city. The terrorists reportedly have already started their activities in their respective election areas threatening the voters of dire action if they do not listen to them during election. In the southwest region of the country, the Islamic University campus reportedly has become "a safe shelter and transit point for notorious terrorists and arms smuggling syndicates." Some syndicates are using the campus for carrying on their illegal arms trade by selling and renting firearms to student leaders at the Islamic University and other universities of the country. As a result, firearms are seen on the campus when an untoward incident takes place. The Islamic University authorities recently asked police to recover arms from the campus, but police failed to do so. Political observers here pointed out that the current social and political instability and the upcoming parliamentary elections have pushed up the demand for small arms. |
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