Dhaka: Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, Home Affairs Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, on Monday asked the protesters to deposit all illegal and unauthorized weapons by August 19, including rifles looted from agencies during the recent violence. This information was given in a media report. According to the news of ‘The Daily Star’ newspaper, Hussain said that if these weapons are not deposited in the nearby police stations, the officers will conduct a search operation and if unauthorized weapons are found with anyone, charges will be registered against him. Hussain was talking to reporters after meeting members of the paramilitary force ‘Bangladesh Ansar’ at the ‘Combined Military Hospital’ here.

Videos have surfaced

M Sakhawat Hussain said that about 500 people, including students, have been killed and several thousand people have been injured during the demonstration. He said, “A young man was seen carrying a 7.62 mm rifle in the video. This means that the rifle has not been returned. If you did not deposit it (due to fear) then deposit it through someone else.”

Police strike ends

Meanwhile, it should also be mentioned here that police officers in Bangladesh have agreed to end the strike after the interim government assured them of meeting most of their demands. Information about this has been given in media reports. Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association (BPSEA) had announced the strike on August 6 after violent clashes broke out between police and students across the country during widespread demonstrations against the Sheikh Hasina government over the controversial reservation system in jobs. Due to the violence, Hasina’s Awami League-led government fell and Hasina had to leave the country and go to India.