Dr. A K Abdul Momenformer Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
Al-Jazeerah network reported that the Bangladesh LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud (27) violated the ICAO Aviation Security Regulations and also the Bangladesh Aviation Security Regulations by carrying a AK-47 assault rifle magazines of bullets while boarding a Turkish flight to Marrakech, Morocco. He was going to Marrakech to attend a conference.
Since it was a Turkish airline and therefore, they insisted on his placing his hand bags on the belt and they found out live two sets of magazine of AK-47 assault rifle in his hand bags. At this, he expressed “sorry” and he was allowed to board the aircraft. As per Bangladesh aviation law, such person is supposed to go through security interrogation. In his case it was relaxed and waved.
As per Bangladesh law, he is not eligible to have a license either for possessing or carrying a firearm as he is below 30 years of age (minimum age requirement to get a firearm license is 30 years) and more importantly, not a taxpayer (must submit income tax for at least 3 years. He never did it). It appears that he acquired the firearm illegally. Secondly, he was carrying 7.6 bullets which killed many students during the July uprising and most importantly, 7.6 bullets are not used by Bangladesh security forces including police. Moreover, no private individual can get license for a AK-47 assault rifle.
No local newspapers were allowed to publish any news on it. However, this story went viral in the social media.
Mr. Mahmud and his entourage entered the airport through a VIP lounge without any security checking and therefore, no one knows what they were carrying in their luggages. Such lax security enforcement measures are not only alarming but also dangerous. The international community should take necessary measures to force Bangladesh government to comply with the international IACO guidelines.
In the hindsight, if this would have been a Bangladesh Biman flight, a national carrier, he could easily carry his firearm being a VIP.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina government last year, the law and order situation has deteriorated very badly in Bangladesh and like Mussolini’s “Blackshirts” gastapo, currently Dr. Yunus government has created his “mob jehadis” and they are above laws. Looting, vandalizing, rape and murder have become a norm rather than an exception in Bangladesh now. People are afraid of them. Mr. Asif Mahmud is a leader of the students group or ‘mob jehadis’ and therefore, Dr. Yunus has entrusted him with the largest ministry of the country.
Earlier, reportedly he spent taxpayers’ $25,000 to distribute $15 worth of blankets to a few individuals in his home town. In addition, he stated in the national television that they were fully prepared and armed with weapons to take down the legitimate government of Sheikh Hasina by armed struggle.
At present, every now and then, the Bangladesh joint forces are unearthing huge amounts of weapons in the possession of students leaders of last July 2024 movement. Dr. Yunus’s first home adviser Brig. Gen (retd) Sakawath Hossain claimed that many police men and other security forces were killed by 7.6 bullets by private sharp shooters. He further added that the Bangladesh police never used 7.6 bullets. It appears that these bullets were part of meticulous design of Professor Yunus to overthrow popularly elected Sheikh Hasina government. Mr. Asif Mahmud must have kept tons of such bullets in many of his luggages and vehicles and inadvertently he carried one of such bags full of bullets.
We appeal to all governments and international agencies to take precautions as the students leaders have enormous illegal weapons under their possession in Bangladesh. And we also demand the IACO to take adequate measures to enforce security measures in Bangladesh airports.
