The home ministry has ordered all licensed firearms to be deposited with the local administrations by Dec 24.
In an order issued on Thursday (Dec 20), it, however, said candidates contesting the national election will be exempted as well as government officials, members of law enforcers and security guards at government, semi-government, autonomous and other organisations.
The ministry said that all licensed firearms will have to be submitted to the local police stations and treasuries, which will be kept there until Jan 6, 2019.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission wrote to the home ministry instructing to collect licensed firearms ahead of the 11th national election, reported UNB.
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday instructed the authorities concerned to collect licensed firearms within December 24, ahead of the 11th national election.
EC Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan sent a letter with the instruction to the Public Safety Department of the Home Ministry in this regard.
"All the legal firearms need to be collected before December 30. Only those involved in maintaining the security of the government and other important establishments will remain out of the purview of the order. All the firearms must be deposited to the police stations concerned," read the letter by EC Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan to the ministry’s Public Security Division.