Some 153 candidates contesting the 13th parliamentary election hold licensed firearms, with the largest share belonging to candidates from BNP, an analysis of affidavits submitted by them reveals.
According to the disclosures, 92 BNP candidates possess licensed weapons, while 12 candidates from Jatiya Party and four from Jamaat-e-Islami have also declared legally owned firearms.
The affidavits show that the highest number of weapons—five in total—are registered in the names of BNP candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency Mirza Abbas and his wife. Another BNP contender for Cox’s Bazar-1, Salahuddin Ahmed, has declared three licensed firearms.
Data shows that six candidates from BNP and one from Jamaat own more than one firearm. Jamaat candidate for the Dhaka-7 constituency, Md Enayat Ullah, has declared ownership of three licensed firearms.
A district-wise review of the affidavits indicates that Cumilla has the highest concentration of armed candidates, with 12 contenders holding licensed weapons. Dhaka follows with 10, while Narayanganj and Tangail each have eight such candidates.
Candidates who declared firearm ownership said they obtained licensed arms for personal and family security. Several said they would deposit their weapons if the government issues directives ahead of polling.
Meanwhile, following the killing of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi in a gun attack, the government has provided armed security guards to a number of individuals after assessing security risks. Several candidates have received gunmen upon application, while many requests remain pending. Some candidates, however, have declined government offers of armed protection.
In the affidavits, licensed weapons have also been declared by five candidates from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, two from Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, two from Gono Odhikar Parishad, and 28 independent candidates. A further eight armed candidates belong to other political parties.
Of the 153 candidates who declared licensed firearms, 11 are under the age of 50. The youngest is Gono Odhikar Parishad candidate for the Patuakhali-1 constituency, Md Shahidul Islam Fahim, who is 28 years old.
Professionally, the majority of armed candidates are businesspeople, accounting for 105 of the 153 licence holders. Other professions include five lawyers, three former government officials, and two full-time politicians.
According to the Election Commission, nearly 2,000 candidates are contesting the 300 parliamentary seats in the upcoming election, scheduled to be held on 12 February.
Prominent candidates declaring licensed firearms
Affidavits submitted to the Election Commission show that many candidates contesting seats in the Cumilla region from BNP have declared licensed firearms.
In Cumilla-1, BNP candidate Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has listed one revolver and one shotgun. In Chandpur-1, BNP candidate A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon and his wife have declared four firearms between them. In Narsingdi-2, BNP candidate Abdul Moyeen Khan has declared two double-barrelled guns.
Former state minister for home affairs and BNP candidate for Netrokona-4 Lutfuzzaman Babar has listed three firearms, while BNP candidate for Chapainawabganj-3 Harunur Rashid has also declared licensed weapons.
The affidavits further show that four candidates from Jamaat-e-Islami hold firearm licences. They are AKM Abdul Hamid (Tangail-6), Md Enayat Ullah (Dhaka-7), Masud Saeedi (Pirojpur-1), and Md Abdul Qader (Jashore-3). Among them, Enayat Ullah has declared a shotgun, a revolver and a rifle.
Other candidates who have disclosed licensed firearms include Syed Muhammad Bahadur Shah Mojaddedi, chairman of Islamic Front Bangladesh; independent candidate for Tangail-4 Abdul Latif Siddiqui; independent candidate for Brahmanbaria-2 Rumeen Farhana; candidate for Bhola-1 Andaleeve Rahman Partho; and Ghulam Muhammed Quader, chairman of Jatiya Party.
Who has been granted armed security
Nearly 20 politicians applied for firearm licences and armed bodyguards, with some parties also formally requesting security arrangements for their leaders, according to officials familiar with the process.
Among those granted armed bodyguards, known as gunmen, are Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, also known as the Charmonai Pir; Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Jonayed Saki; and BNP candidate for Meherpur-1 Masud Arun.
After reviewing their applications, the home ministry approved armed protection for the three on 7 January and instructed police headquarters to take the necessary steps.
Separately, an application was submitted to the home ministry on 17 December seeking round-the-clock personal security and armed uniformed police to guard the residence of Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. Officials said the request is still under consideration.
Other politicians who have sought security include BNP-nominated Gopalganj-1 candidate Selimuzzaman Selim, Gopalganj-3 candidate SM Zilani, Dhaka-4 (Jatrabari) candidate Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Pabna-3 candidate Hasan Zafir Tuhin, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh Secretary General Yunus Ahmed Sheikh.
Officials said applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account threat perceptions and security risks, before any protection is granted.
