International
oi-Saumya Joshi
The
Bangladesh
interim
government
has
issued
a
stern
warning
to
protesters,
demanding
the
return
of
all
illegal
and
unauthorized
firearms
by
August
19.
This
includes
rifles
looted
from
law
enforcement
during
the
recent
violent
protests.
Failure
to
comply
will
result
in
severe
consequences,
according
to
a
report
by
*The
Daily
Star*.
Bangladesh
Government
Final
Warning
Home
Affairs
Adviser
Brigadier
General
(retd)
M
Sakhawat
Hussain
delivered
this
ultimatum
on
Monday,
urging
those
in
possession
of
such
weapons
to
surrender
them
at
nearby
police
stations.
He
emphasized
that
if
the
arms
are
not
returned
by
the
deadline,
authorities
will
launch
search
operations,
and
anyone
found
with
unauthorized
firearms
will
face
legal
action.
Protests
Erupt
As
Hindus
Seek
End
To
Violence,
Yunus
Offers
Reassurance
Hussain
made
these
remarks
at
the
Combined
Military
Hospital
in
Dhaka,
where
he
visited
injured
members
of
the
paramilitary
Bangladesh
Ansar,
who
were
hurt
during
the
mass
protests.
The
country
has
been
in
turmoil
since
last
week
when
Prime
Minister
Sheikh
Hasina
resigned
and
fled
to
India
amid
deadly
protests
against
her
government
over
a
controversial
job
quota
system.
The
violence
has
resulted
in
the
deaths
of
around
500
people,
including
students,
and
left
several
thousand
injured.
Hussain
highlighted
a
video
showing
a
youth
taking
away
a
7.62
mm
rifle,
which
has
yet
to
be
returned.
He
urged
those
who
may
be
afraid
to
surrender
the
weapons
themselves
to
find
a
way
to
return
them
through
others,
as
reported
by
Firstpost.
The
adviser
also
noted
that
an
investigation
is
underway
to
identify
the
civilian
youth
who
was
seen
firing
at
Ansar
members.
However,
he
softened
his
previous
stance
on
shutting
down
media
outlets,
clarifying
that
his
comments
were
made
in
anger
and
that
he
does
not
support
such
actions,
as
per
media
reports.
India
Thwarted
Foreign
Plots
To
Prevent
A
Bangladesh-Style
Collapse—The
Untold
Story!
The
interim
government,
led
by
Nobel
laureate
Muhammad
Yunus,
took
office
last
Thursday
after
Hasina’s
departure.
A
16-member
council
of
advisers
has
been
appointed
to
assist
Yunus
in
managing
the
country’s
affairs
during
this
challenging
period.
