Arms, ammo recovered from arrested BNP leader's Ctg house: Police

Police claim to have seized a huge cache of illegal firearms, ammunition and sharp weapons by raiding the house of a local BNP leader in Chattogram's Banshkhali upazila two days after his arrest in Dhaka.

In the early hours of Friday, police searched the Gondamara residence of Liakat Ali, and found 10 guns, two foreign pistols, 72 rounds of bullets, 26 rounds of cartridges and huge locally-made sharp weapons, said Assistant Superintendent of Anwara Circle Police, Sohanur Rahman Sohag, during a press briefing held at Banshkhali police station in the afternoon.

Banshkhali OC Tofael Ahmed was also present at the briefing.

Among the items seized during the raid were two foreign pistols, five domestically manufactured LGs, three single-barrel guns, 72 rounds of bullets, 26 rounds of cartridges, five Chinese axes, seven sharp weapons and 40 sticks.

Liakat, 52, also a former chairman of Gondamara Union in Banshkhali, was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on 7 February from the capital's Fakirapool-Motijheel area on criminal charges.

The BNP leader's arrest comes amidst an ongoing investigation into more than 21 cases against him, ranging from murder and extortion to attacks on police and subversive activities, filed at various police stations.

Police suspect that Liakat and his cohorts might have more arms and ammunition in their possession.

"The investigation [against Liakat] is on, and we are conducting drives to nab all his associates," OC Tofael Ahmed told The Business Standard.