Thousands of sharp weapons seized from NGO warehouse in Cox’s Bazar

Around 5,000 sharp weapons were recovered from a warehouse of a local NGO (non-government organisation) at Malbhitapara in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Thursday night, reports news agency UNB.

Acting on tip off, a team, led by executive magistrate and assistant commissioner (land) Fakhrul Islam, conducted a drive at the warehouse of Shed, an NGO, and recovered the locally-made weapons, kept in 20/25 sacks.

The weapons include machetes, knives, saw and other sharp weapons.

Legal action will be taken against the NGO authorities after investigation, said Fakhrul Islam.

On Wednesday, the government banned the activities of two NGOs -- ADRA Bangladesh and Al-Markazul Islami -- for providing financial assistance for the 25 August rally of Rohingyas and campaigning against their repatriation.

Earlier on 31 August, 41 NGOs were withdrawn from all kinds of activities in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps for their wrongdoings.

Thousands of Rohingyas staged a huge rally in Ukhiya on 25 August demanding that the international community step up pressure on Myanmar to meet their five-point demand, including repatriation, citizenship and trial in the international court of those involved in killing and persecution.

Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and most of them entered the country since 25 August 2017.

Despite all the preparations, no Rohingya turned up on 22 August to accept the “voluntary” repatriation offer to go back to their place of origin prompting the authorities to suspend the repatriation process.

A previous attempt to repatriate the Rohingyas was also failed on 15 November 2018 as none of them showed willingness to go back to Myanmar’s Rakhine state for lack of a congenial environment.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal on 23 November 2017, but there has been little progress in this regard.