Dhaka, Nov 06: Bangladesh, which is mounting a sweeping army-led drive against crime, today ordered all citizens to give up their licensed weapons immediately. Bangladeshis have until November 15 to surrender all licensed arms and ammunition or face "legal action," the Home Ministry said in a statement.

"The government has taken the move in the interest of the public and of making the ongoing joint drive successful," it said.
Thousands of weapons which would be handed in would remain with the government "until further notice."
Authorities have rounded up more than 3,800 people during the anti-crime drive launched October 17 and have been alarmed that a number of the weapons seized were legally registered.



The army operation has been criticised by rights groups and the United States, which October 30 said it had seen credible reports of rights abuses and urged Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to wrap up the drive quickly.



But the army chief, Lieutenant General Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, said the crackdown "will continue as long as listed and identified criminals are not arrested."



He gave assurances that all the criminals will be captured.



"Countrymen have already started getting the positive impact of the joint operation as many of the criminals have been arrested while the rest have gone into hiding," said Chowdhury, quoted by local media.


Bureau Report