Lawyer moves High Court to suspend Bangladesh election until recovery of looted firearms

Petition says voters’ lives at risk if polls held before weapons are recovered

A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a public interest petition in the High Court seeking suspension of the national election until thousands of firearms looted during last year’s uprising are recovered.

Lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan lodged the writ petition on Wednesday, naming the cabinet secretary, home secretary, law secretary, election commission secretary, inspector general of police and the director general of RAB as respondents.

Citing media reports, the petition said 5,750 firearms and 651,609 rounds of ammunition were stolen from police stations and law-enforcing offices during the 2024 Uprising.

Despite reward announcements, a significant portion remains unrecovered.

“This vast quantity of illegal weapons in the hands of criminals poses a grave threat to voters and candidates,” the petition stated, adding that while the government has provided armed protection for some candidates, no effective measures have been taken to safeguard ordinary voters.

It argued that holding elections without recovering the looted arms would violate Article 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life.

Hasan told bdnews24.com the petition seeks a directive to postpone the election until all stolen arms and ammunition are recovered and a safe environment is ensured.

The hearing is expected next week before the bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil.