In Rajshahi Division, 92 firearms and over 11,000 rounds of ammunition looted from police stations during the July 2024 uprising remain missing, according to police sources. Despite administrative optimism about holding a fair 13th parliamentary election, local officials and security analysts warn that the unrecovered weapons pose a serious challenge. The Rajshahi Range DIG acknowledged that the missing arms could influence the upcoming polls, while the divisional commissioner maintained that logistical issues were manageable.

Experts and civic voices expressed deep concern over the situation. Rajshahi University’s Professor Mahmudul Haque described the missing weapons as a national security risk, noting that civilian possession of arms could destabilize the election environment. Social worker Nasrin Begum warned that fear among voters might reduce turnout, and political analyst Anwar Hossain said the integrity of the election could be questioned if the weapons remain unrecovered.

Analysts urged stronger joint operations to recover the arms, emphasizing that without decisive action and accountability, public trust and electoral safety could be severely undermined.