Bangladesh army on Sunday conducted a special operation at the Airport Railway Station in the capital from 11am to 12pm with assistance from the army’s 46 Independent Infantry Brigade, intelligence agencies and the airport railway police.
The raid was launched based on secret information indicating fears of arms and explosives being trafficked on the Rajshahi-bound Bonolota Express. During the search of a specific coach, the team recovered eight foreign pistols, 16 magazines, 26 rounds of ammunition, 2.387 kilograms of gunpowder and 2.228 kilograms of plastic explosives, an army media release said.
The seized weapons and explosives were handed over to Kamalapur Railway Police for further legal action.
According to Railways Police, a dog squad was also deployed during the search. The source of the weapons and who brought them remain unknown, creating concern among security agencies. The discovery triggered heightened security measures across the station as passengers looked on anxiously.
Railway Police Airport Outpost in-charge SI Nadiruzzaman told TIMES of Bangladesh that eight pistols, fourteen magazines and twenty-six rounds of ammunition were seized from the bag.
He said no one has been detained in connection with the incident so far.
Law enforcers suspect the weapons may have been part of an organised smuggling attempt targeting the capital ahead of major political programmes.
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the train and station to identify the individuals involved, he said.
