Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, clarified on Monday that the magazine found in the bag of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan at the airport did not belong to an AK-47 rifle.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order, the Home Affairs Adviser stated that the incident appeared to be a genuine mistake.
"The magazine was not for an AK-47," he said. "It was simply an empty magazine for one of his personal pistols. It seems he forgot it was in his bag."
The adviser compared the situation to mistakenly picking up the wrong item while rushing. “Sometimes you mean to take your glasses but end up grabbing your phone instead.
It was just an oversight,” he explained, emphasizing that the adviser in question would never have knowingly carried it had he realized.
When questioned about Asif Mahmud’s eligibility for a firearms license—given that he is reportedly under the required age of 30—the Home Affairs Adviser refrained from commenting. “I haven’t seen the relevant law, so I cannot speak on that,” he stated.
The incident raised concerns over airport security, as the magazine reportedly passed through two rounds of scanning before being detected during a third check.
Addressing this, the adviser acknowledged the issue and noted that such lapses needed to be addressed to ensure equal enforcement of rules.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding preferential treatment. “If someone is a leader, sometimes they receive privileges upon entering secured areas. But such privileges must not be allowed. The law must apply equally to everyone,” he said.
