A brief moment of unease arose at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after a dummy assault rifle was discovered in the luggage of Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, as he was departing Bangladesh following a four-day official visit.
The incident occurred on the evening of October 28, when alert Bangladeshi security personnel detected the replica weapon during luggage screening.
Discovery at the CIP Gate
General Mirza — Pakistan’s second-highest-ranking military officer — was preparing to depart for Pakistan via Dubai on Emirates Airlines flight EK-587, accompanied by his wife and three senior officers.
According to sources, around 6 PM, while the delegation’s luggage was being scanned at the Commercially Important Person (CIP) gate, a “heavy bag” drew attention on the electronic scanner. Military security sources confirmed that the object was wrapped as a gift package which, upon inspection, was found to contain a souvenir rifle.
A Gift from Bangladesh
After questioning accompanying Pakistani officers of major rank, it was revealed that the item was a souvenir weapon presented to General Mirza as a gift.
Reportedly, on October 26, Lieutenant General S.M. Kamrul Hasan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, had gifted the dummy rifle to General Mirza.
The recovered item was identified as a BD-08 rifle of 7.62 mm bore, but without a firing pin, meaning it was entirely non-functional.
Allegation of Protocol Breach
Airport authorities said that despite being a ceremonial military souvenir, neither the Bangladeshi hosts nor the Pakistani delegation had informed them in advance about the transport of the item. Under international protocol, carrying any weapon-like object — even a replica — requires prior permission and declaration.
The incident caused mild embarrassment for both delegations at the close of an otherwise cordial visit marked by ceremonial hospitality and exchange of gifts.
