SW.38 Bangladesh aw - Saferworld

Small arms and security in South AsiaREPORT

Challenges to peace and security:Consulting communities on small arms in Bangladesh

December 2006

National Forum Against Small Arms, South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh and Saferworld

The National Forum Against Small Arms (NFASA) brings together individuals and organisations

committed to preserving community safety and the combating of the proliferation and misuse

of small arms and light weapons. Accordingly, NFASA endeavours to create greater awareness

around small arms issues, highlight the connection between small arms proliferation and

violence and domestic underdevelopment, as well as lobby government.

South Asia Partnership (SAP)-Bangladesh is a non-governmental organisation committed to

promoting the interests of the most vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. To this end, SAP-

Bangladesh has provided support to more than 350 NGOs with programmes reaching across the

whole of the country. Activities include the conducting of consultations, facilitating dialogue

between interested parties, publishing bulletins and newsletters, and lobbying for pro-poor

development.

Saferworld is an independent non-governmental organisation that works with governments

and civil society internationally to research, promote and implement new strategies to increase

human security and prevent armed violence.

COVER PHOTO: PETER CROSS, SAFERWORLD.

SaferworldThe Grayston Centre28 Charles SquareLondon N1 6HTUK

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National Forum Against Small Arms

c/o South Asia Partnership- Bangladesh

House No 63, Block-‘Ka’GPO Box No 4182Dhaka-1207Bangladesh

South Asia Partnership- Bangladesh

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Email: [email protected]: www.sap-bangladesh.org

Challenges to peace and security:Consulting communities on small arms in Bangladesh

NATIONAL FORUM AGAINST SMALL ARMS,

SOUTH ASIA PARTNERSHIP-BANGLADESH AND SAFERWORLD

DECEMBER 2006

Acknowledgements

The National Forum Against Small Arms and Saferworld thank the British High Commission in Dhaka for supporting the civil society consultation process and thepublication of this report.

The consultation team consisted of: Nadira Mallik of South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh; Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Chairman, Department ofPublic Administration, of the University of Dhaka and Chairman, of JANIPOP;Md Abdul Halim, ex group member of Amnesty International Bangladesh; and Md Touhidul Islam, of Saferworld. The report was written by the consultation teamtogether with Nic Benton and Peter Cross from Saferworld. Translations for the reportwere provided by Neila Husain, of Bangladesh Institute of International & StrategicStudies (Bengali to English) and Rafiqul Islam Shathy , Development Consultant(English to Bengali). It was copy-edited for Saferworld by Robert Long.

Acronyms

BHC British High Commission

BDR Bangladesh Rifles

BNP Bangladesh Nationalist Party

IED Improvised explosive device

NGO non-governmental organisation

NSAFA National Forum Against Small Arms

PoA Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects

RAB Rapid Action Battalion

SALW small arms and light weapons

UN United Nations

© Saferworld, December 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without full attribution. Saferworld welcomes and encourages the utilisation and dissemination of the material included in this publication.

Contents

Executive summary i

Keynote Speech by Mr Lutfuzzaman Babar, iv

State Minister for Home Affairs

Introduction 1

1. The problem of small arms and light weapons 3

2. Methodology 5

3. Findings 8

4. Recommendations 16

5. Conclusion 19

APPENDIX 1: National Forum Against Small Arms members 20

APPENDIX 2: Bibliography 21

RAJSHAHI

DHAKA SYLHET

CHITTAGONG

KHULNA

BARISAL

BAY OF BENGAL

Rajshahi

Sylhet

Dhaka

Satkhira

INDIA

MYANMAR

Barisal

Cox’s Bazar

Districts of Bangladesh

Executive summary

POST-INDEPENDENCE BANGLADESH has successfully managed to avoid the civilconflicts and secessionist struggles that have undermined security in other SouthAsian countries. Small arms and light weapons are, however, a concern in Bangladesh,where they are believed to be used in the commission of crimes, to access influence andto reinforce power. In the recent past Bangladesh has been affected by a number ofincidents in which small bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were used tocommit crime, undermine the state’s authority or terrorise local communities. Thiswas most clearly demonstrated on 17 August 2005 when over 400 IEDs were detonatedin 63 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts.

Bangladesh is also increasingly seen as a key ‘transit route’ for the trafficking andsmuggling of weapons in South Asia. The hilly regions of the south east, the open seasof the Bay of Bengal in the south, a poor border monitoring system and corrupt lawenforcement officials have all contributed to this situation. The actors involved in themovement of illegal arms are believed to include international and trans-bordersmugglers, criminal syndicates and separatist groups.

The Bangladesh National Forum Against Small Arms (NFASA) and Saferworld conducted a community consultation which consulted over 150 community representatives in each of Bangladesh’s six divisions in April and May 2006.The consultation aimed to identify safety and security concerns of communities,particularly those related to small arms and light weapons (SALW) and IEDs; to develop recommendations to address these concerns; and, to assist the government in tackling the problem of SALW and to implement the UN Programme of Action toPrevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons inAll Its Aspects (UN PoA).

The findings from the consultation were debated during a National Dialogue Forumheld in September and attended by the Minister for Home Affairs, the Deputy Ministerfor Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs, Members of Parliament, the acting British HighCommissioner and over 70 participants from civil society, government, the donorcommunity and the media. The consultation found that abuses of power, politicalrivalry, the emergence of extremist elements and the availability of illegal firearms areall causes of contemporary human insecurity in Bangladesh. The lack of developmentand access to opportunity were also perceived to be fuelling insecurity.

The recent gains made to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh may not be sustainable in the current climate of high levels of insecurity, fuelled by the easy availability of smallarms. The emergence of extremist elements and a growing organised criminal presence with perceived close links to political figures is further undermining the conditions necessary to support development.

The consultation found that the key sources of illegal SALW in Bangladesh were perceived to be those trafficked or smuggled into Bangladesh, homemade weaponsthat are being manufactured locally and weapons that are leaking from state stocks.

The community consultation and the National Dialogue Forum came up with a rangeof recommendations that the Government of Bangladesh and civil society should takeforward. These include:

Create a National Commission on Small Arms and IEDS

■ As recommended in the UN PoA Section II Paragraph 4

■ The National Commission should be responsible for guiding policy, developing andimplementing efforts to control SALW proliferation, and for monitoring efforts tocontrol SALW

Introduce civilian oversight for arms control

■ Involve civil society at all levels

■ Include civil society in the National Commission, as recommended in the UN PoA

Review existing legislation on SALW and IEDs

■ Review the 1878 Arms Act urgently

■ Ensure the legislation conforms to international best practice

■ Ensure that the legislation is effectively implemented

Develop the capacity of law enforcement agencies to address SALW and IED

proliferation

■ Improve training and resources for law enforcement agencies

■ Provide specialised training on firearms crime, identification, investigation techniquesand ballistics

■ Destroy seized, captured and unserviceable weapons

■ Improve linkage between communities and police

■ Promote community based approaches to policing

Enhance border security

■ Improve the capacity of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)

■ Provide specialised training for customs and immigration officials in counter-trafficking and firearms and explosives identification

■ Target smuggling black spots and increase patrolling there

Practical measures to reduce violence in elections

■ Introduce a code of conduct signed by all political parties

■ Undertake a public awareness-raising campaign against the use of firearms and violence in the democratic process, endorsed by leading political figures during theupcoming elections

Raise community awareness around the problem of SALW and IEDs

■ Undertake wider community awareness-raising campaigns against the growing gun-culture

ii CHALLENGES TO PEACE AND SECURITY: CONSULTING COMMUNITIES ON SMALL ARMS IN BANGLADESH

Summary of keyrecommendations

■ Target awareness campaigns at violently politicised groups such as students, about the negative impact of firearms and IEDs

■ Create a negative stigma around the possession of illegal weapons

Link human security to poverty reduction and socio-economic development

■ Link development with community safety and security

■ Include community safety and security components in development projects

The consultation, the National Dialogue Forum and the resultant report is intended as a positive and constructive contribution to assist the Government of Bangladesh totackle the problem of SALW and IEDs and to implement the UN PoA.

SAFERWORLD · SOUTH ASIA PROGRAMME iii

Keynote speech delivered bythe Honourable Minister forHome Affairs, Mr LutfuzzamanBabar to the National Dialogueon small arms in Bangladeshon 7 September 2006

Honourable Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Honourable MPs,acting British High Commissioner, representatives from government and NGOs,journalists, members of civil society and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, goodmorning!

I’m very pleased to have this opportunity to say a few words on small arms: challengesto peace and security. I consider this a very significant challenge for our individualcountry as well as to the global community.

Dear audience, the proliferation of small arms and various explosive devices are creating serious trouble in countries like Bangladesh. It has an immediate negativeimpact on public security and law and order. Also these kinds of incidents hamper themuch-required economic development process of Bangladesh.

Ladies and gentlemen, improvement of the overall law and order situation was theelection promise for this government along with active co-operation of all the cornersof society for the last four and a half years for this purpose. I hope that you all recognised the visible as well as the internal improvements with regard to public security. This government under the very able leadership of Prime Minister BegamKhaleda Zia has increased the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Home Affairs.We have acquired modern technology, weapons, vehicles, and intelligence equipmentto modernise the various law enforcement agencies. A major emphasis of this processwas the organisation expenses of police and the creation of the elite force RAB (RapidAction Battalion) and other specialised units like the bomb disposal unit, highwaypolice etc.

The role of the various donor organisations and NGOs is also worth mentioning.Many of them have provided the much-required materials, assistance and training forlaw enforcing agencies.

There are two issues to be tackled to stop the proliferation of small arms and lightweapons. One is illegal smuggling of explosive devices and materials, which are beingused for producing these weapons and bombs. And another is the proliferation of thetechnology for manufacturing small weapons and explosive devices or improvisingexplosive devices.

In spite of the geo-political vulnerability, the government has strengthened bordersecurity to prevent illegal arms trade. We have also ensured very strict criteria for issuing gun licences.

Bangladesh is also party to the UN Programme of Action on the illicit trade in smallarms and light weapons. Bangladesh observes 9th July every year as small armsdestruction day to raise public awareness. I firmly believe that public awareness, civilsociety participation and inter-community consultation is vital to address this important issue of public security. In this regard, this initiative by the British HighCommission in collaboration with South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh, NationalForum Against Small Arms and Saferworld is praiseworthy. With these words I conclude. I wish this event very success.

Thank you.

SAFERWORLD · SOUTH ASIA PROGRAMME v

Introduction

“On 22 May 2002 my husband died from shots fired by seven or eight young gunmen.I was informed that he was wounded although my son was told of his father’s death.On 23 May I left Kolkata for my country and reached Benapole by crossing Haridaspurcheckpost. I bought a newspaper out of curiosity and as soon as I glanced at the front pageI saw the picture of my husband lying in a pool of blood and also the news of his death… .I am no longer afraid of protesting, I have nothing to lose”.Sharika Sharkar Beena, Wife of the murdered Commissioner of no. 72 Ward (Tantibazar), Dhaka City Corporation.She is now an elected ward commissioner.

This report documents the process, findings and recommendations of a series ofcommunity consultations on ‘peace and security’ held from March to May 2006, andculminating in a National Dialogue Forum held in Dhaka on 7 September 2006. Theconsultation was made possible through the support of the British High Commissionin Dhaka and was conducted by the Bangladesh National Forum Against Small Arms1

and Saferworld.

The consultation was conducted in each of Bangladesh’s six divisions. Communityrepresentatives were invited to highlight their concerns regarding safety and securityand suggest possible ways to address these concerns. In particular the consultation wasaimed at examining the impact of small arms and light weapons (SALW). More than150 people participated in six round table consultations and small group discussions.The National Dialogue Forum was attended by the Minister for Home Affairs, theDeputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs, four Members of Parliament, theacting British High Commissioner and over 70 participants from civil society,government, the donor community and the media.

In the recent past Bangladesh has been affected by a number of incidents in whichsmall bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been used to commitcrimes, undermine the state’s authority or terrorise local communities. As a result,communities were also asked to consider the impact of IEDs on their safety and security.

The consultation, the National Dialogue Forum and the resultant report is intended as a positive and constructive contribution to assist the Government of Bangladesh to tackle the problem of SALW and IEDs and to implement the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SmallArms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA). It is also intended to assist inidentifying broader issues impacting on community security, the strengthening ofwhich will better enable sustainable development to take place.

1 The Bangladesh National Forum Against Small Arms is co-ordinated by South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh and comprises 11 members, the NFASA membership is included as an appendix to this document.

Through targeting the proliferation and misuse of small arms as well as investigatingmeasures to enhance community safety and security, NGOs, the international donorcommunity and the Government of Bangladesh will better be able to support the success that Bangladesh has experienced to date in attaining its Millennium Development Goals.

2 CHALLENGES TO PEACE AND SECURITY: CONSULTING COMMUNITIES ON SMALL ARMS IN BANGLADESH

1The problem of smallarms and light weapons

INTERNATIONALLY, SALW2 are responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1,000people each day.3 Despite not being affected by a major conflict Bangladesh has asignificant small arms problem and, as a consequence, high levels of human insecurity.Bangladesh has recognised this, and has made a firm commitment to implement theUN PoA. Bangladesh is also engaged at the international level and asserts that the tradein arms should be brought under an agreed international regulatory framework; inthis regard Bangladesh supports the development of a conventional arms trade treatyunder the UN auspices.4

The availability of SALW has had an impact on all sections of society; for example,SALW allow political cadres and criminal groups to carry out their activities with toolsthat provide increased impunity. As a consequence, substantive development has beenhindered, and peace and security within the country threatened.

Moreover, Bangladesh has become a key ‘transit route’ for the trafficking and smuggling of weapons in South Asia. The hilly regions of the south east, the open seasof the Bay of Bengal in the south, a poor border monitoring system and corrupt lawenforcement officials have all contributed to this situation. The actors involved in themovement of illegal arms include international and trans-border smugglers, criminalsyndicates and separatist groups.

As well as being affected by the proliferation and misuse of SALW – a problem common across the world – Bangladesh also suffers from the use of explosives bycriminals and other armed groups in the form of IEDs. This was most clearly demonstrated on 17 August 2005 when over 400 IEDs were detonated in 63 ofBangladesh’s 64 districts.

The primary sources of sophisticated illegal weapons in Bangladesh are believed to be those which have been stolen from law enforcement agencies, smuggled fromneighbouring countries, or supplied by non-state actors. In addition, crude firearmssuch as pipe-guns and pistols are manufactured within the country. These illicit

2 Small arms and light weapons are usually abbreviated to SALW in this report. Small arms are weapons designed for individualuse, such as pistols, sub machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns. Light weapons are designed to be deployed andused by a crew of two or more, such as grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns and missile launchers,recoilless rifles and mortars of less than 100mm calibre.

3 International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), ‘1000 killed every day’, 2006: Bringing the global gun crisis undercontrol, http://www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/gun-control-2006.htm. Last accessed 20 October 2006.

4 Statement by Mr Md Zulfiqur Rahman, Minister, Permanent mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations, to the UNConference to Review Progress Made to the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicatethe Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/pdf/arms060627bangl-eng.pdf

weapons and explosives are extensively used in the commission of political violence,extortion, terrorist activities, religious extremism, fish farm crime and various othercriminal offences.

Participants in the process agreed that the discussions were important for theyincreased awareness of how SALW have impacted on national and human security.Furthermore, it was felt that public involvement was important for a comprehensiveframework on security to be effective, and capable of meeting the challenges of illegalweapons. Participants were also of the opinion that through political commitment,society could be freed from the destabilising consequences of illicit arms, leading tothe development of a secure nation.


2Methodology

THE FOLLOWING SECTION PRESENTS THE METHODOLOGY used to consult thecommunities and bring the information to the national level for further consultation.

The community consultations on peace and security were undertaken between Marchand May 2006 in all six Divisions of Bangladesh. The community consultations werefollowed by a National Forum at which the Division level outcomes were presented for discussion. The National Forum had over 70 participants, including the Minister of Home Affairs Mr Lutfuzzaman Babar, the Acting British High Commissioner Mr Stephen Bridges, members of parliament and a broad range of civil society representatives.

The consultation process was intended to provide a foundation from which dialoguebetween interested stakeholders could be stimulated and upon which future researchwould be based. The dialogue was not designed nor intended to undertake a comprehensive survey of small arms, IEDs and insecurity. Therefore, the core of theresulting report documents the extent to which the proliferation of illegal weapons has impacted on the security of a limited abstraction of the population of Bangladesh.Participants included: students, teachers, leaders of labour unions, journalists, lawyers,home makers, religious representatives, bank officials, religious leaders, business leaders, NGO leaders and a variety of other professionals. In total, more than 150 menand women, between the ages of 24 and 60, took part in the Divisional consultationsorganised in Rajshahi (northwest), Sylhet (northeast), Cox’s Bazar (southeast), Barisal(south), Satkhira (southwest) and Dhaka (central).

Certain limitations have constrained the scale of this project. For example, due to time constraints it was not practical to hold meetings in all 64 districts of Bangladesh;instead, the community consultations were organised in six geographically diverselocations. Nevertheless, the report has endeavoured to create a realistic picture of thewidespread availability and extensive use of small arms and explosives, by questioninga diverse sample of society.

Each community consultation followed a consistent pattern and allowed for facilitators to engage in both formal and informal discussions with communities and their representatives. Accordingly, prior to each consultation, facilitators would

Scope ofconsultation

Informaldiscussions

engage in relaxed and informal discussions with their host communities on matters ofpeace and security. These informal discussions helped structure the consultation thatfollowed.

The official community consultations on peace and security were conducted in threestages:

In a round table discussion the facilitators introduced a topic for debate and explainedthe rationale behind the consultations and the process that would be followed.The participants were then asked to consider what the main threats to security were intheir communities, and to consider the place of small arms and IEDs in underminingcommunity security. The round table was conducted using participatory methods andprovided the first opportunity for communities to identify and consider small armsissues, as well as to consider and propose possible recommendations on tackling theseissues.

Smaller group discussions followed, where participants were divided into three groupsto consider the issue of community security, and how small arms and IEDs impact ontheir security. Participants were invited to relate their own experiences in this regard,and these testimonies provided further information for the consultation. Thus, thesesmaller groups allowed for more detailed discussions to be undertaken on particularaspects of insecurity and small arms proliferation identified during the initial roundtable discussion. A trained facilitator chaired each group, with a local rapporteur doc-umenting the outcomes of the talks.

Following the conclusion of the discussions, one of the participants from each of thegroups was invited to present the outcomes of their debate to the other groups.This allowed for further participatory debate, because there had to be unanimous consent regarding the overall outcome of the consultation. Therefore, when there wasdisagreement further discussions were encouraged so that a complete document couldbe created to represent the general views of each community. Moreover, throughoutthe process time was made available for all those that wished to share personal experiences or opinions on peace and security. After each consultation a report in Bengali was prepared. These reports have contributed to this national level consultation document.

The consultation team consisted of:

Co-ordinator: Nadira Mallik, South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh

Facilitators: Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, University of Dhaka Md Abdul Halim, Amnesty International Bangladesh Md Touhidul Islam, Saferworld

The final round of the consultation took place at the national level in Dhaka. Thefindings and recommendations from the Divisional level consultation were presentedto over 70 participants from government, civil society, the donor community, themedia and other stakeholders and interested parties. Representatives from all six Divisional consultations were also present at the National Dialogue, as were a numberof victims of small arms related violence and crime. The State Minister for Home


Consultationmethod

Consultationteam

Nationaldialogue

Affairs, Mr Lutfuzzaman Babar delivered a keynote address (printed above). Themeeting was also attended by the acting British High Commissioner, Stephen Bridges,as well as the Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs and members ofparliament.

The National Dialogue invited participants to discuss the consultation findings andthe recommendations. Participation was lively, and the findings and recommenda-tions were hotly debated. The discussions on the findings and recommendations havenow been reflected in this report.

SAFERWORLD · SOUTH ASIA PROGRAMME 7

3Findings

THE FOLLOWING SECTION PRESENTS THE FINDINGS from the community consultations. In places these findings are supplemented with supporting informationfrom newspaper articles.

Participants in the consultations revealed that politicians, business leaders and govern-mental institutions are known to use arms and explosives in the protection of theirinterests and in the accumulation of influence. Security is provided principally byunemployed and semi-employed youths, who are given firearms and patronage(money and benefits) in return for their support. These cadres use firearms and explosives to disrupt opposition activities and to intimidate rivals, thus increasing the influence of their employer; for example, in a confrontation in Rajshahi on 14February 2006 between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and 14 party activists,supporters of the BNP publicly brandished revolvers. The use of firearms has alsoenabled political figures and interested parties to accumulate significant wealth.

Small arms are used extensively by both petty criminals and organised syndicates, toprotect their activities and to gain economic rewards. Smugglers, for example, useweapons to defend themselves and their commodities. Robbers use firearms to lootvaluables from houses, shopping malls and banks; while muggers take money, watches,mobile phones and jewellery from their victims. An income tax lawyer was killed forTaka 800,000 (£6,500) by muggers on 29 April 2006.5

The activities of these armed criminals are significant causes of insecurity. They alsoundermine economic development, for they have been known to demand hugeamounts of money from organisations and individuals. Failure to comply can result ineither serious injury or execution. On 14 May 2006, criminals demanded a ransom ofTaka 50 million (£400,000) from a businessman; on refusal he was shot and killed athis office in Karwan Bazar.6

The use of firearms in the commission of crime was universally perceived to be a concern in the communities that were consulted, for they undermine both the amountof security available to communities and the quality of security.

5 ‘Income tax lawyer killed in a taxicab: taka 8 lakh looted after being shot’, Prothom Alo, 30 April 2006.6 ‘One killed and 6 wounded after being refused of extortion amount’, Prothom Alo, 15 May 2006.

Demand

Crime

However, it was not only firearms that were highlighted. Other sources of insecurityinclude human trafficking, acid violence, dowry related victimisation and sexualharassment, all of which are seen to be prevalent in Bangladeshi society.

Moreover, drug abuse, addiction and trafficking are thought to be gradually destroyingthe younger generations of society.

Firearms are also perceived to play a role in damaging trade and commerce: invest-ment, construction, and transport are all thought to be monopolised by armed cadres(under the protection of political parties and members of law enforcement agencies).Although the effect on commerce and trade differs vastly from one part of Bangladeshto another, community concerns around extortion and protection rackets were largelyuniversal.

The impact of crime, and in particular firearms-related crime, experienced in each ofthe communities consulted, was closely related to the economic activities of that location. In Satkhira, for example, the community highlighted the links between theproliferation of small arms and piracy in the Sunderbans. A further concern in Satkhira was the use of firearms in the commission of fish farm related crimes.

In Barisal the participants reported security concerns relating to land grabbing andpiracy and the creation of trade and commerce syndicates. In Rajshahi smuggling inthe border areas and the manufacturing of local firearms were seen to be of particularconcern.

In the capital, Dhaka, crime featured prominently in people’s concerns about security,with the perceived widespread availability of illegal firearms in the capital linked todrug peddling, extortion, muggings, criminal activity and corruption over tenderrights, hijackings and ransoms.

Participants in a number of communities also stated that feelings of insecurity hadbeen increased as a result of political leaders providing shelter to known criminals.The perceived links between crime and political rivalry were common throughoutBangladesh; in the case of Sylhet there were believed to be links between criminalgroups, the misuse of remittance money and intra-party conflict.

Firearms are therefore perceived to be creating increased poverty in Bangladesh, forthey are contributing to the destabilising of local economies and industries. As a consequence, they are limiting the potential for future growth. Moreover, the linksbetween the misuse of SALW and the political process illustrates a devaluing of humandignity.

Political rivalry has also resulted in progressively more people being killed or injuredas political leaders and their supporters, as well as party activists, are engaging in actsof violence.

Firearms are particularly prevalent amongst the members of politically influenced student groups. The protagonists aged primarily between 20 and 30 compete for control of dormitories, influence tender competitions, and actively seek to destabilisethe activities of their competitors. The impact of arms is demonstrated by an incidentin Dhaka on 8 June 2002 when a student named Shabekunnahar Sony died after beingcaught in crossfire between Salimullah Hall and Bangladesh University of Engineeringand Technology factions of Chattradal over tender rights. More recently, police openedfire on a clash between students from rival institutions in the district of Sylhet,injuring four and killing one.7 Education institutions have been known to have to close down for indefinite periods of time, so as to avoid destructive episodes of conflictbetween armed student bodies.8


7 ‘Clashes, Police Firing in Sylhet: SUST, private medical college closed sine die’, Daily Star, 14 May 20068 Ibid

Political rivalry

The rise of extremism in Bangladesh and related episodes of violence pose a new threat to community security. Incidents of terrorism include the indiscriminate use ofexplosives, grenade attacks and assassinations. Targets of bomb attacks include:cultural functions (Udichi cultural programme in Jessore on 6 March 1999); politicalgatherings (a Communist Party of Bangladesh meeting in Paltan on 20 January 2001);public events (a Chayanaut programme at Ramna park on 14 April 2001); and religiouscentres (a church in Gopalganj on 3 June 2001). The most devastating incidentoccurred on 17 August 2005, when over 400 IEDs exploded simultaneously acrossBangladesh.

The consultation in Rajshahi, in particular, highlighted the Bangla Bhai forces as amajor cause of insecurity.

In a number of the communities consulted, concerns around the oppression ofminorities was raised. There are minority communities living in Satkhira, Cox’s Bazarand Dhaka, all of which are perceived to be experiencing increased suffering at thehands of those with access to SALW.

As a result of the political influence of smuggling syndicates, controlling the supply ofsmall arms and explosives is currently considered to be impossible by the participantsof the consultations. According to the consultation participants from Dhaka, many different actors have contributed to this proliferation. The most prominent amongstthem are: cross-border arms manufacturers and dealers; international, regional andinternal smuggling groups.

The supply of weapons in the border district of Rajshahi is similarly dominated by avariety of smuggling syndicates, and their ‘godfather’ supporters, namely politicalleaders, successful businessmen and powerful industrialists. However, arms andammunition stolen from different law enforcement agencies have also contributed tocriminal and terrorist activities. In Sylhet and Barisal, the local supply of weapons iscontrolled by a vested interest group, comprising arms smugglers, political leaders andindustrialists. Secessionist groups from neighbouring countries have also contributedto the proliferation of arms in the districts. The areas primarily affected are the borderregions of Moulvibazar and Khulna.

Large numbers of weapons are smuggled across the border of Chittagong in the southeast of Bangladesh, especially through the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar.Participants were of the opinion that the arms smuggled were destined for the variousseparatist groups operating in neighbouring countries, particularly in India’s NorthEast. This availability of arms has prompted insurgent groups from neighbouringcountries to operate, train and buy arms in Bangladesh.

It is the responsibility of the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to police the border. Apparent weakness of border controls have however, prevented comprehensivesuccess in combating smuggling. One trafficker, called Jamil, who had been caught inpossession of weapons, stated that his group smuggled weapons concealed inside cars.9


9 ‘Darshana has long been the transit point for arms smuggling: Jamil confesses to police’, Prothom Alo, 13 May 2006.

Extremism

Suppression of minorities

Sources ofsmall arms andlight weapons

and improvisedexplosive

devices

Trafficking/smuggling

Training in small arms and explosive manufacture is also found in some remote areasof the country. The trainees tend to be: unemployed youths aged between 18 and 30;members of criminal and extremist organisation from across Bangladesh; members ofinternational secessionist groups; and fugitives from the law. It was reported thatweapons training could be received in the areas of Naikhongchori, Enani, Eidgah,Eidgorh, Gorjonia, Baishari, Rongikhali, Teknaf, Baharchora, Kata Pahar, Kantakhali,Ulubunia and Malumgaht.

In regard to Shatkihira, in the district of Khulna, locally manufactured pistols and pipe guns are generally used for the purpose of fighting over the control of fish ponds,grabbing khas (government land), extortion, and a mixture of other criminal activities. The sophisticated weapons in the district (made available by the actions of syndicates operating in the border regions of Shatkhira, Jessore, Meherpur andChuadanga) have empowered banned organisations such as the East Bengal Communist Party to engage in acts of cross-border terrorism.

Anxiety regarding illegal small arms is exacerbated by the assertion that ‘legal’weapons are loaned to criminal syndicates in exchange for financial rewards.Participants from Cox’s Bazar told facilitators of an incident that took place in Inani,where robbers were loaned weapons by forest guards in exchange for a share of thestolen items.

Discussions held during the community consultations revealed the extent to whichSALW were perceived to have influenced human and national security.

“On 27 May 2006 at 21:15 hours, Mr Harun-or Rashid, a businessman from Purana Paltan Lane in Dhaka, was on his way to the airport to leave for Singapore. His car wassuddenly stopped by seven or eight armed young men. After firing several shots, they leftthe place immediately. Passers-by rushed the car owner and his driver (Mosharrof, age 30)to Dhaka Medical Hospital; but both the passenger and the driver died at 22:00hrs”10.Mr Harun-or Rashid was the father of two daughters. Since this incident, his family has become destitute and the education of his children has become uncertain.

The consultation reported that people from all walks of life in Bangladesh live in constant fear for their lives. Every day, it seemed to participants, at least one or twopeople die as a result of gunfire, due to a wide range of causes. Human security istherefore, undoubtedly threatened by the proliferation of small arms. With everypolitical killing, strikes and retaliatory protests add further security concerns for thegeneral public.

During the course of the consultations, it was revealed that people from both urbanand rural areas of Bangladesh fear sudden outbreaks of armed violence. Political parties and organised criminal syndicates openly display their weapons at meetingsand demonstrations; such exhibitions of power antagonise opponents and preventnon-militant factions from voicing opposition. The participants from Barisal illustrated this point by citing examples of how political activists had used firearmswhen confronted by the police.


10 ‘Businessman and driver shot dead at Purana Paltan lane’, Prothom Alo, 28 May 2006.

Homemade weapons

Weapons supplied bythe security forces

Impact

Threat to life

Fear and anxiety

Feelings of insecurity are increased by the perception that law enforcement agenciesare unwilling to address the concerns of their local communities. Participants assertedthat police and local politicians were more likely to protect armed terrorists, if offeredfinancial rewards. Therefore, despite being able to identify criminal and terroristactors, people are afraid to come forward.

Firearms and explosives are perceived to play a significant role in Bangladesh elections,whether governmental or not. It was revealed during the consultations that local criminal syndicates often assist candidates as they run their election campaigns.To illustrate this, participants referred to the case of the chief of the BangladeshTelecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) who is alleged to have run hiscampaign with the assistance of wanted criminals.11

During political elections it is customary for armed cadres from different political parties to manipulate the democratic process. Reported criminal acts include the capturing of polling booths, casting false votes, hijacking ballot boxes and violentcoercion of the electorate.12 As a result participants believed that the chance of an honest candidate winning an election is limited.

After elections, acts of politically motivated retribution continue to destabilise com-munal security. Identified incidents included the assassination of elected candidates,13

and the killing or torturing of opposition party supporters and minorities.14 The participants strongly believed that the continual use of small arms in national andlocal politics has left very little room for the holding of free and fair elections.

Business and investment in Bangladesh suffer from incidents of extortion, gun-running, rent-seeking and tender-related crime. Organised criminal syndicatesdemand huge sums of money in protection from businesses and in ransom forabducted persons.15 Failure to adhere to these demands can result in the murder ofthe targeted business owner or hostage.16 Furthermore, it was revealed during thecommunity consultations that corrupt policemen demand ransoms (Taka 200 to 500)from trucks carrying goods and collaborate with members of criminal syndicates.17

As a result, the prices of essential products have risen, the number of those living inrelative poverty has increased, investment has dwindled and established businesseshave begun to fail. Accordingly, employment opportunities have decreased, the qualityof production has declined and the government has lost revenue because of smugglingand black market activity. Aside from individual businesses, extortion and rent seekinghas affected whole communities; the tourism industry in the Sylhet region and Cox’sBazar, for example, have been severely constrained due to these illegal activities.

Small arms and explosives feature prominently in student political violence and areactively and often indiscriminately used during student confrontations. The destructive activity of cadres in higher education institutions has created a sense ofunease, regarding the safety of both local communities and students. The deaths ofstudents caught in the crossfire between armed student groups, have compelled those


11 ‘BTRC chief’s election campaigning with a criminal of 17 cases’, Prothom Alo, 11 May 2006.12 ‘Municipal Elections: Violence, ballot capture mark close’, Daily Star, 11 May 200413 ‘Killing spree in Khulna: BNP leader bombed, AL leader knifed to death, another AL man fights for life at DMCH’,

The Daily Star, 30 January 200414 ‘Over 10,000 communal tortures in govt’s 4 yrs’, The Daily Star, 11 October 2005 15 ‘55 lakh taka was paid to free 3 foreigners in Rangamati’, Prothom Alo, 11 May 200616 ‘One killed and 6 wounded after being refused of extortion amount’, Prothom Alo, 15 May 200617 ‘Police-criminal nexus behind Chittagong abductions’, The Daily Star, 11 October 2005

Elections

Business and commerce

Education system

parents participating in the community consultations to question whether it is safe for their children to go to university.

It was also revealed that political influence in education has meant that supporters ofspecific parties receive preferential treatment over those who are otherwise betterqualified. Due to this bias, many youths have decided to seek further educationabroad. This has lead to concerns about a ‘brain-drain’ amongst the Bangladeshiyouth.

Effective higher education institutions are essential for the future of Bangladesh, asthey provide the local human capital necessary for sustained and productive develop-ment. Many graduates play a significant role in alleviating human insecurity by actively contributing to the reduction of poverty; for example, capable teachers,doctors, and civil servants facilitate the eradication of extreme poverty and promotequalitative empowerment.

SALW and explosives pose an acute threat to both women and children. Many womenare concerned about the prevalence of SALW in society, because they are carried bysmugglers and petty criminals, which increases their already vulnerable situation.

Participants at the community consultations reported that violations of the rights ofwomen and children occur on a regular basis in Bangladesh.18 The concerns of parentsregarding the security of their children compel many to arrange early marriages fortheir daughters. A participant from Cox’s Bazar reinforced this sentiment, when heinformed the consultation that his daughters were married at a young age out of fearof abduction.

Even for those women that are protected by marriage, potential threats to individualsecurity remain. One participant highlighted the reality that should a married man bekilled, his widow is left vulnerable and insecure.

The rape of women and children has also become increasingly common in recentyears. The prospect of abuser retaliation prevents many women from pursuingjustice,19 but for those that do, corruption within the institutions of law and orderoften sees offenders freed without punishment.20 An example given during the consultation in Rajshahi highlighted this phenomenon. Millie, an eight year old girl,was killed by an attacker after initially being raped and tortured; in spite of the socialoutrage that followed, local police are believed to have quelled demands for retribution at the insistence of political leaders.

Furthermore, abuse of the rights of women and children born as a consequence ofrape are exacerbated by the resulting social exclusion. The stigma of being raped andabandoned, as revealed by the community consultations, has compelled many womento commit suicide or to turn to prostitution in order to survive.21

Children conceived as a result of rape are subjected to further suffering due to the mistreatment of their mothers. It was reported during the consultations that they, liketheir mothers, are often excluded, which can result in drug abuse and other criminalactivity, perpetuating a cycle of violence.

Another threat to the security of women and children, especially those from the borderareas of Bangladesh, is human trafficking. Parents from Dhaka city declared that theyremain in a constant state of unease as they fear for the security of their children, and


18 ‘Women still vulnerable: Speaker says at conference’, The Daily Star, 19 March 2006,http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/03/19/d60319060272.htm, last accessed 14 July 2006

19 Hindu Human Rights, Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh: Rape and Dishonour,http://www.hinduhumanrights.org/Bangladesh/rapendishonour.htm, last accessed 14 July 2006

20 UNDP in Human Rights Watch, HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh,http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/bangladesh0803/5.htm#_ftnref53, last accessed 14 July 2006

21 See Human Rights Watch, HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh, http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/bangladesh0803/5.htm#_ftnref53,last accessed 14 July 2006

Women’s rights andtheir security

their daughters in particular. This inevitably has repercussions for social relations andfamily lives. Eve-teasing22 also poses a significant threat to the security of women.

The participants from all of the consultations believed that firearms and explosivedevices were a significant threat to the long and short term integrity of developmentwithin Bangladesh. For example, armed violence has impeded progress in several areas of the nations Millennium Development Goals. Accordingly, in relation to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, the death of the primary income earnerhas the potential to increase the likelihood of food and income insecurity for theirdependents. Income instability in turn, can have a detrimental impact on the education of children for some may be forced to leave school in order to be able tocontribute to the feeding of themselves and their family.

Threats of attack, ransacking or abduction for ransom have also marginalised thosethat would be otherwise willing to contribute to projects or local businesses. In Cox’sBazar for example, it was alleged that business and political rivalry has resulted in thecriminal ransacking of the modernised Hotel Seagull. On the occasions when develop-mental activities have been implemented, participants from the consultations assertedthat extortion and tender related crimes have impeded progress.

The growing availability of firearms and their use as tools of the political process hasresulted in the rapid development of a culture of violence in Bangladesh. The potentially destructive consequences for human life and the integrity of the state hasdestabilised relations between parties and threatened communal peace and security.Socially, firearms have given criminal factions excessive power which they use toenforce their activities. On 26 May 2006 Assistant-Chairman of the BNP for the 39thWard was shot and killed for refusing to pay extortion and for protesting against terrorist activities.23 Accordingly, social unrest and political instability continue to rise.

The Government of Bangladesh’s policy to act in a determined manner to address the apparent decline of law and order is strongly supported by the general population;consequently, the consultation participants referred regularly to the role of eliteenforcement agencies in controlling illicit firearms use. The support for strongerenforcement stimulated the creation and endorsement of the elite anti-terrorist force,the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in March 2004. The RAB was established followingamendments to the Armed Police Battalions Ordinance (1979)24 and the Armed PoliceBattalions Act (2003).25 The purpose of this elite organisation is the improvement oflaw and order, recovering illegal firearms and rooting out terrorism. Since its establish-ment the RAB has successfully recovered approximately 1,577 illegal firearms and15,645 rounds of ammunitions. The RAB has also secured the arrest of several leadingcriminals, including: Bangla Bhai, Ataur Rahman Sany, and Abdul Latif.26 However,the RAB was also the subject of discussion about the misuse of firearms in the commission of their duties.

In just over a year, 104 people had been killed by this force, as a result of crossfire.27

Extensive newspaper testimonies show this trend to be continuing. Many participantswere concerned that these deaths have been extra-judicial, and are therefore human


22 Eve-teasing is the sexual harassment or molestation of young women and girls. 23 ‘Extortionists gun down anti-crime leader’, The Daily Star, 27 May 2006.24 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Legal Matters, http://www.rabbd.com/legalmat.html, last accessed 14 July 200625 Ibid26 Rapid Action Battalion, Major RAB Achievements til 31 Aug 2006, http://www.rabbd.com/rabacheivement.html, last

accessed 13 September 200627 Ain O Shalish Kendra (2005), RAB: Elimination of Terrorism or State Sponsored Terrorism (Dhaka)

Development andgrowth

Socio-cultural

Rapid Action Battalion

rights violations. While participants expressed the opinion that overall the anti-terrorism operations conducted have significantly curbed terrorist activity,community members felt that there was a need for accountability and greater transparency regarding the activities of the RAB. Therefore, in line with internationalbest practice and international standards on the use of force, the government needs toactively monitor the actions of this elite organisation, so as to guarantee that the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Bangladesh are rigorously protected andthat the constraints of domestic law are not compromised.


4Recommendations

AN OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION was to invite those whoparticipated to suggest ways and means by which the spread of small arms and IEDscould be controlled. The consultations collected a wealth of recommendations withregard to controlling the full range of community safety and security concerns identified. This consultation document presents a selection of recommendationsdrawn from the community consultation. These recommendations are intended aspositive and constructive measures which, if implemented, would lead to more effective control of small arms and IEDs in Bangladesh, and would decrease the negative impact that these weapons have on community safety and security.

■ Create a National Commission on Small Arms and IEDs

The United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons calls onstates to establish ‘national coordinating agencies’ responsible for guiding policy,developing and implementing efforts to control SALW proliferation and for monitor-ing efforts to control SALW.28 Participants in the consultations and the BangladeshNational Forum Against Small Arms believe that establishing a National Commissionto perform this function in Bangladesh would provide the necessary co-ordinationand oversight to control the problem more effectively.

Bangladesh is party to the UN PoA and during the Review Conference held in NewYork in June and July 2006 Bangladesh re-committed itself to the PoA and the need toimplement it fully. Those countries that have established National Commissions havemade the most progress towards implementing the UN agreement (Sri Lanka, Kenya,Uganda and Tanzania amongst others).

■ Introduce civilian oversight for arms control

A recommendation that emerged as central to this process was the need to involve civil society at all levels. Civil society should participate alongside local and national government and the administration of government agencies; for example, by including civil society as a full member of a National Commission, as has been done in the case of Sri Lanka and other National Commissions. Civil society can also act in partnership with a national commission, law enforcement agencies and border security forces to allow for greater public participation and ensure increased transparency.

Arms control should also be opened up for greater scrutiny by Parliament.

28 UNPoA Section II, Paragraph 4

■ Review and revise existing legislation and the implementation of legislation

concerning SALW and IEDs

The legislation governing the control of small arms and IEDs in Bangladesh was considered by most participants in the consultation to be outdated and in need ofthorough review. The primary piece of legislation is the Arms Act of 1878 and it wasrecommended that it should be reviewed as a matter of urgency. Many participantsbelieved that the 1878 Act is beyond amendment and that a new piece of legislationneeds to be enacted.

In addition to the primary piece of legislation, all other relevant laws and proceduresrelating to the control of firearms, or to their use, should be reviewed, including theregulations relating to the issuing and licensing of firearms.

While the firearms control legislation in Bangladesh was seen to be old and outdated,it was also stressed that the current legislation would go a long way to control theproblem if it was implemented effectively. Participants stressed the importance of notonly reviewing the existing legislation, but also ensuring that the existing legislation isimplemented.

■ Develop the capacity of law enforcement agencies to address SALW and IED

proliferation

All communities in the consultation raised concerns around the role of the lawenforcement agencies in controlling the proliferation and misuse of SALW and IEDs.Communities perceived law enforcement agencies to be failing in their obligations tocontrol the problem and to implement the law. A revision of the legislation will gosome way to helping these agencies control this problem but there is also a need tofocus on developing the capacity of law enforcement. This capacity needs to be developed through both the provision of training and the provision of resources.Training needs to take place in issues related to firearms crime, such as firearms identification, investigation techniques and ballistics.

Given that law enforcement agencies were seen to be a source of firearms in several ofthe communities consulted, it is essential that the law enforcement agencies improvethe controls that they have over their own weapons, through improved stockpile management systems. The current stockpile management systems need to be reviewedand strengthened, and law enforcement officials should receive training in stockpilemanagement. Seized, captured, redundant, obsolete or unserviceable weapons shouldbe destroyed.

Improving the links between communities and the police is another important areafor increasing the capacity of law enforcement. Good community/police relationsimprove communities’ trust in the police. Communities that perceive the police to beworking in their best interests will be more willing to assist the police in these endeavours. Promoting community-based approaches to policing will not only serveto improve the relations between police and the community, but will help improvepolice effectiveness.

■ Enhance border security

Bangladesh is bordered by India and Myanmar in the north, east and west and by theBay of Bengal in the south. These are long and porous borders and are very difficult to control, allowing criminals and terrorists to take advantage of this situation.Corruption and inefficiency in the border security force exacerbate this problem.There is a pressing need to improve the capacity of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) byproviding them with more resources and training needed to tackle cross-border crime.


In addition to the BDR, customs and immigration officials at official crossing pointsalso need training to ensure they can play a full part in controlling cross-border armstrafficking. Officials need specialist training in counter-trafficking and in firearms andexplosives identification.

Potential smuggling black spots need to be identified and resources focused onpatrolling these areas; otherwise the smuggling of arms, drugs, domestic goods,livestock and women and children will continue.

■ Practical measures to reduce violence in elections

The communities perceived a link between the holding of elections and firearms related violence. Some practical measures can be taken to reduce the use of violenceduring elections.

Political parties should sign a code of conduct in which they undertake not to use violence and intimidation techniques during electioneering. This code should beenforceable by the Commission of Elections.

A public awareness-raising campaign, supported by a broad section of society –including leading political figures – should be conducted to declare as unacceptablethe use of violence and intimidation in elections.

■ Raise community awareness around the problem

Widespread community awareness programmes are required to counter the growinggun-culture in Bangladesh. The consultation reported that people are increasingly seeing firearms as tools of security and of status. Well researched and targeted publicawareness-raising campaigns, for example targeted at students, can help to make people aware of the negative impact of firearms and IEDs and create a negative stigmaaround these weapons.

■ Link human security to poverty reduction and socio-economic development

The consultation highlighted the link between a safe and secure environment and ability for development to take place. Bangladesh has made some impressive progresstowards attaining its Millennium Development Goals. There is now a need to linkdevelopment with community safety and security; for development leads to peoplefeeling more secure in their environment, and this security in turn promotes development. This process will be enhanced through the Government, NGOs and theinternational community including community safety and security components indevelopment projects and linking poverty reduction to human security.


5Conclusion

ABUSES OF POWER, POLITICAL RIVALRY and the availability of illegal firearmsare all causes of contemporary human insecurity in Bangladesh. The prevalence ofviolence in society has further weakened governmental stability and underminedtrust. Unless immediate action is taken to address the power of armed criminals andterrorists, the destructive influence of weapons will continue to destabilise nationaland local security. To address this negative environment, measures such as effectivestockpile management (including regular stocktaking of legal and recovered weaponsand the keeping of an accurate inventory of stolen weapons) are essential for thepreservation of peace and security. In conjunction, the general public needs to remainengaged with the issue of small arms and light weapons.

Currently, the accessibility of firearms in Bangladesh is typified by the relatively safemovement enjoyed by international arms smugglers across the long and porous borders of the country. The consequences of this emerging gun culture are manifold,but regarding human security small arms have contributed to increased numbers ofviolent criminal activities. National security is also threatened, and failure to curb incidents of violent confrontation can lead to economic insecurity.

This initiative supported by the British High Commission and conducted by Saferworld, South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh and the National Forum AgainstSmall Arms to undertake a community consultation focusing on peace and security(and more specifically the spread and misuse of small arms and light weapons) hasproduced positive results. The process has educated local communities as to the issuesrelated to small arms; and will provide a valuable source of information for domesticand international actors. The content of this consultation will therefore aid the Government of Bangladesh in taking its current initiatives for the prevention of SALWproliferation further. The process has also enabled civil society to engage with issuesthat were formerly dominated by the state, and to promote joint initiatives. Local communities, civil society, security officials and government offices have to worktogether for weapon controls to be effective.

Sri Lanka is the only South Asian country that has been successful in forming a national commission responsible for preventing, combating and eradicating the illicittrade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. Bangladesh has the potential to mirror these positive actions, and the statements made by Bangladesh at the recentUnited Nations Programme of Action Review conference show that Bangladesh hasthe political will that is required to achieve this. Together with civil society and theinternational community, Bangladesh can take control of small arms and IED proliferation and enhance the security of Bangladesh’s many communities.

APPENDIX 1: National Forum Against Small Arms members

Mr Syed Nurul Alam South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh

Ms Nadira Mallik South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh

Mr Syed Tamjid Ur Rahman ChangeMaker

Mr Md Abdul Halim Amnesty International Bangladesh

Mr Rafiqual Alam Retired Superintendent of Police

Mr Adilur Rahman Khan Odhikar

Maj Gen (Rtd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Peace Activist

Brig Gen (Rtd) Sakhawat Hussain

Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah

Dept of Public Administration, University of Dhaka and National Election Observation Council (Jatiya Nirbachon Parjobekkhon Parishad – JANIPOP)

Mr Hifzur Rahman CAMPAIGN

Dr Dalem Ch Barman ProfessorDept. of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Dhaka

20

APPENDIX 2: Bibliography

Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK) (2005), RAB: Elimination of Terrorism or State Sponsored Terrorism,(Dhaka).

BDPC Position Paper on UN Program of Action on Small Arms, BILIA-BDPC Seminar in Dhaka,4 January 2006.

Burma Lawyers’ Council, THE ARMS ACT [INDIA ACT XI, 1878], http://www.blc-burma.org/html/Burma%20Code/lr_e_bc02_18.html, last accessed 12 July 2006

Burma Lawyers’ Council, THE EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT [INDIA ACT VI, 1908],http://www.blc-burma.org/html/Burma%20Code/lr_e_bc02_21.html.

Chowdhury, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed, Bangladesh, 9 January 2006, http://www.un.org/events/small-arms2006/pdf/Bangladesh.pdf.

Department of Explosives, The [1***] Explosives Act, 1884,http://dipp.nic.in/explosive/explmain.htm#THE%20[1*%20*%20*]%20EXPLOSIVES%20ACT,%201884.

Hindu Human Rights, Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh: Rape and Dishonour,http://www.hinduhumanrights.org/Bangladesh/rapendishonour.htm.

Human Rights Watch, HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh,http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/bangladesh0803/5.htm#_ftnref53.

Hussain, Neila, (2000), ‘Problems of Proliferation of Small Arms in Bangladesh’, South Asia atGunpoint: Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation, (Regional Centre for Strategic Studies: Colombo).

Hussain, Neila, Armed and Dangerous: Small Arms and Explosive Trafficking in Bangladesh,http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/1_13.htm#assessment3, last accessed 25 May 2006.

International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), ‘South and Central Asia’, Regions,http://www.iansa.org/regions/scasia/scasia.htm.

International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), ‘1000 killed every day’, 2006: Bringing theglobal gun crisis under control, http://www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/gun-control-2006.htm. Last accessed 20 October 2006

Kafi, Sharif A., (2005), Illegal Small Arms and Human Insecurity in Bangladesh,(Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre: Dhaka).

Rahman, Zulfiqur Md., Bangladesh, 27 June 2006,http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/pdf/arms060627bangl-eng.pdf.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Legal Matters, http://www.rabbd.com/legalmat.html.

Small Arms Survey (2002), Counting the Human Cost, (Oxford University Press: Oxford)

South Asia Partnership-Bangladesh (2004), Illegal Use and Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons:An Assessment of the Situation in Bangladesh (South Asia Partnership: Dhaka).

United Nations (2001), Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Armsand Light Weapons in All its Aspects,http://disarmament2.un.org/cab/smallarms/files/aconf192_15.pdf.

Newspaper

‘40 mugging groups active in Dhaka’, Prothom Alo, 12 May 2006.

‘55 lakh taka was paid to free 3 foreigners in Rangamati’, Prothom Alo, 11 May 2006.

‘459 blasts in 63 districts in 30 minutes: 2 killed; 100 hurt; all explosives were time bombs; Jama’atulMujahideen leaflets found’, The Daily Star, May 18 2006.

‘BTRC chief ’s election campaigning with a criminal of 17 cases’, Prothom Alo, 11May 2006.

‘Businessman and driver shot dead at Purana Paltan lane’, Prothom Alo, May 28, 2006.

‘Clashes, Police Firing in Sylhet: SUST, private medical college closed sine die’, The Daily Star,May 14 2006.

‘College Principal Murder in Ctg. Sparks Violent protest. Home Minister faces agitation, Govt.given 7-day deadline to arrest culprits’, The Daily Star, 17 Nov 2001.

‘Darshana has long been the transit point for arms smuggling: Jamil confesses to police’, ProthomAlo, 13 May 2006.

‘Extortionists gun down anti-crime leader’, The Daily Star, 27 May 2006.

21

‘Income tax lawyer killed in a taxicab: taka 8 lakh looted after being shot’, Prothom Alo, 30 April2006.

‘Killing spree in Khulna: BNP leader bombed, AL leader knifed to death, another AL man fights forlife at DMCH’, The Daily Star, 30 January 2004.

‘Municipal Elections: Violence, ballot capture mark close’, The Daily Star, 11 May 2004.

‘One killed and 6 wounded after being refused of extortion amount’, Prothom Alo, 15 May 2006.

‘Over 10,000 communal tortures in govt’s 4 yrs’, The Daily Star, 11 October 2005.

‘People pay Tk 6,796cr in bribes a year: TIB survey finds the sum goes to 25 service sector entities’The Daily Star, 21 April 2005.

‘Police-criminal nexus behind Ctg abductions’, The Daily Star, 11 October 2005.


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