AS this newspaper reported yesterday, transnational syndicates have apparently been using Bangladeshi territory to smuggle small firearms from one Indian state into another. Recently, investigators have, for the first time, recovered sophisticated arms like 12-chamber revolvers in Bangladesh during the arrest of three alleged smugglers from the capital's Sayedabad. The discovery of such weaponry is extremely concerning as it highlights the dangerous phenomenon of small arms in our country.

Small arms are generally responsible for killing more people than big arms. Because the presence of illegal weapons engenders conflict and shapes its nature, the authorities must keep in mind the long-term effects that the entry and trafficking of such small arms may have on our national security—especially since weapons trafficking is commonly linked with the drug trade as well as narcotics and extremism. Law enforcing agencies should look into whether the recent discovery of weapons is only the tip of the iceberg, and investigate whether other syndicates are using our territory to smuggle weapons across borders or to smuggle small arms into the country, as already there have been instances where small arms have been found on various campuses.

Moreover, as the recent incident shows, smugglers have a tendency to find new routes to smuggle arms due to strong vigilance at particular points; therefore, in order to combat such tactics, it is essential to plug all the gaps as much as possible. Because of the nature of the problem and the gravity of its various implications, the authorities must ensure that smugglers and arms trafficking syndicates have no room to establish a foothold in the country.