The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-7 has uncovered a large cache of firearms, locally made weapons, and weapon-making materials in a raid on an illegal arms factory in Raozan upazila of Chattogram.
The day-long operation, launched early Thursday, led to the arrest of two men allegedly involved in manufacturing and selling illegal arms in the region for years, according to RAB officials.
The detainees were identified as Md Kamal, 50, son of late Khayez Ahmed, and Md Sohel Ahmed, 44, son of late Shafique Ahmed both residents of Noapara in Raozan.
RAB-7 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Hafizur Rahman said the operation was carried out following intelligence reports of a large arms stockpile inside a residential house in Noapara. “Two individuals have been arrested from the site,” he said.
During the operation, three single-barrel guns, six one-shooter guns, five Chinese axes, one sword, five machetes, and a large quantity of local weapon-making materials were recovered from the site.
In initial questioning, Kamal Uddin reportedly admitted that he had been making and selling weapons with the help of local collaborators for years. He is already accused in at least three cases filed with Raozan Police Station, RAB said.
Lt Col Hafizur Rahman added that RAB had information about several illegal arms factories operating in the remote hills of Raozan, supplying weapons to pirates, drug traffickers, and armed groups. “Our intelligence team had been tracking these activities for quite some time,” he said.
RAB said the seized arms and materials will be handed over to police for further legal action.
In recent months, Raozan and nearby areas have witnessed a surge in political violence and killings. RAB records show that since 5 August last year, 17 people have been killed in political violence, including 12 in targeted attacks.
Among the recent victims were Jubo Dal activist Mohammad Alamgir Alam, shot dead on Saturday, and BNP worker Mohammad Abdul Hakim, who was killed in a similar attack on October 7. Police have yet to arrest the armed assailants involved.
RAB said it is investigating possible links between the series of political murders and local arms manufacturing networks operating in the region.
