Bangladesh interim government issues 7-Day ultimatum for protesters to surrender illegal firearms

PTC News Desk: According to a media source, protesters were requested to turn in all unlawful and unauthorised guns, including the rifles taken from police enforcement during the recent violence, by August 19 by Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, the Home Affairs Adviser for the interim government of Bangladesh.

Hussain threatened to file charges against anyone discovered in possession of unauthorised firearms if such guns were not given to the local police stations, according to The Daily Star newspaper. The authorities would then conduct a search.

Speaking with reporters at the Combined Military Hospital here, Hussain had just visited paramilitary Bangladesh Ansar men injured during the large-scale demonstration that resulted in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's removal.

Last week, Hasina resigned and left the nation, sending her country into disarray over rallies against her government over a contentious job quota system.

According to Hussain, throughout the protest, thousands more people were hurt and about 500 people, mostly students, died.

"A 7.62 mm gun was seen being taken away by a young person on camera. In other words, the firearm was not given back. He said, "Hand over the firearms through anyone else if you did not hand them over (out of fear)." Hussain declared that they will look into who the young person dressed in civilian clothes was that opened fire on the Ansar members.

He did, however, soften his remarks from yesterday regarding closing down media organisations for disseminating or publishing inaccurate or misleading information. "I was angry when I said it. I don't do it for a living ". "I never support shutting down any media."

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took office as the leader of an acting administration last Thursday, taking Hasina's place. Yunus announced the formation of a 16-member council of advisers to help him manage the affairs of the state.

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