The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Director of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre (BPDC) on Sunday said more than 25,000 out of 1,30,000 licensed arms in the country, are being used in various illegal means.

"We carried out a survey across the county which showed that around 25,000 to 30,000 arms under legal arms licences are being rented to criminals," BPDC director Sharif K Kafi said at a press conference.

The press briefing jointly organised by BPDC, Bangladesh Network on Small Arms (BNSA) with the support of South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPI) and International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) at the Jatiya Press Club.

The conference was held to mark the concluding day of

Global 'Week of Action Against Gun Violence-08' to raise awareness, campaign for better gun laws and push for stronger regulation of the global arms trade.

BPDC chairperson Masuda Farouk Ratna, members of SAAPI Dr Wajed-ul Islam Khan and Dr Mahbub-e-Rashid and representative of BANSA Sharmina Afroz were also present at the conference.

Sharif urged the government to formulate regulations under the existing arms act as well as canceling the permission of unlimited use of ammunition to strictly control the smuggling and trafficking of illegal arms.

"A vested quarter, who had received permission to buy unlimited ammunition under their arms licenses, is selling bullets in the black markets," he said.

At the press briefing, Sharif placed an 11-point recommendations to the government for controlling illegal arms.

Under the recommendations, he urged the government to form an independent national peace and security commission for checking use of illegal arms and counter terrorism in the country.

The recommendations also include updating the arms law, reforming arms licensing rules, bringing madrasa education under general education system, allocating adequate budget to create employment opportunity, taking measures in the light of UN action and establishing a network with the neighbouring countries.

He also said, it should be ensured that the law enforce agencies of the country could perform their duty without any political influence to free the country from counter terrorism.

They have also submitted copies of recommendations to the Chief Adviser, Advisers, and to the heads of the SAARC states, he said.

The global week was observed across the world from June 2 ahead of United Nations biennial review meeting scheduled on July 14 to 18 in New York to review progress on the UN Programme of 'Action on Small Arms'.

As part of marking the week, the BPDC and BNSA have already organised human chain programmes, discussion and rally in Dhaka, Gazipur, Kurigram Jessore and Satkhira.