10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong - Background

Background

Bangladesh has been known for having problems with "small arms proliferation, armed violence, and criminal activities in Bangladesh are their linkages with the politics of the country." Violence with arms frequently occurs related to political demonstrations, including hartals (or strikes). "Political parties also maintain armed cadres to intimidate and, exert power and influence over the rival political activists."

The nation is considered a "key ‘transit route’ for trafficking and smuggling of weapons in South Asia. All the points of entry i.e., air, land, and sea routes are used for trafficking and smuggling and it is alleged that the Bangladesh-India land routes are used extensively for the business."

The police and Coast Guard interrupted the loading of materials in the smuggling incident. They seized 10 truckloads of material: a total of 4,930 different types of sophisticated firearms; 27,020 grenades; 840 rocket launchers, 300 rockets, 2,000 grenade launching tubes; 6,392 magazines; and 11,40,520 bullets, which were being loaded on 10 trucks from two-engine boats at the jetty of CUFL at Chittagong harbor. The illegal arms were believed to be intended for ULFA, the militant organization working for independence of Assam from India, with many members based in Bangladesh. It is classified as a terrorist group by India and considered responsible for thousands of deaths since its founding in 1979.

Ahadur Rahman, then officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli police station, filed a case related to the incident on April 3, 2004. He was appointed as Investigation Officer (IO) of the cases. After 22 days, the cases were transferred to the national CID, where ASP AKM Kabir Uddin was appointed IO. He submitted the first charge sheet to the court on June 11, 2004. In 2004, arms smuggling charges were filed against a total of 45 individuals under the Special Powers Act and arms charges against 43 persons under the Arms Act.

The Bangladesh National Party, which led the government at the time of the smuggling incident, resigned at end of term in October 2006 and a caretaker government took charge for the 90-day period until elections. On January 11, 2007 Chief Advisor and President Iajuddin Ahmed announced he would be resigning from the CA position and appointing a replacement; the military had intervened to support a neutral government following the withdrawal of the Awami League from elections scheduled for January 22. The prominent banker, Fakhruddin Ahmed, who had been with the World Bank, was appointed as Chief Advisor. At the time, the government relieved Major General Haider Chowdhury, then Director General for National Security Intelligence, of his duties and put him under investigation. He was later charged in this smuggling case.

In 2007 the caretaker government, with military backing, filed charges of corruption in numerous cases against a total of more than 160 politicians, civil servants, and businessmen.