Dhaka: The government has approved a proposal in principle to procure 17,050 pieces of 12-bore shotguns for Bangladesh Ansar and VDP to replace their old and outdated firearms. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, who chaired meetings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, reported on the decisions.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed highlighted the necessity of replacing the existing firearms, as they have become very old, ensuring the operational effectiveness of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP. He emphasized that the procurement is economically viable and cost-effective.
Dr Salehuddin noted that the procurement proposal was evaluated based on competitive pricing, marking it as highly economical. He stated that compared to previous procurement costs, this purchase stands out as very competitive.
In response to inquiries about any links between the procurement and the upcoming national election, Dr Salehuddin clarified that the purchase is unrelated to election activities. He stressed that the Ansar force has long needed updated shotguns, and this procurement was overdue.
Furthermore, Dr Salehuddin mentioned that the Ansar force had not received official firearm replacements for many years, which justified the timing of this procurement.