The government has proposed a significant increase in different categories of firearms licensing, renewal, delay and duplication fees, which are set to climb by up to 100 per cent under a newly reviewed policy framework, sources said.
Under the proposal, firearms licensing and renewal fees for banks, financial institutions, corporate entities, firearm dealers and repair companies are set to increase by 33 per cent to 100 per cent, with significant hikes across both individual and institutional categories.
Long-barrel firearm licence issuance fees for financial institutions and banks are proposed to double to Tk 100,000 from the existing Tk 50,000, marking a 100 per cent increase.
The renewal fee for institutions and banks is also proposed to double from Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000.
For general institutional entities, the long-barrel firearm licence issuance fee is set to increase to Tk 200,000 from Tk 100,000, while the renewal fee will rise from Tk 20,000 to Tk 40,000.
Licence issuance fees for firearm dealers and repairers are set to increase by 100 per cent, from Tk 40,000 to Tk 80,000, while renewal fees will also double from Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000.
Licensing and renewal fees for different categories of firearms owned by individuals, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns, guns and rifles, are also set to increase.
The licence issuance fee for a pistol or revolver has been proposed to rise to Tk 80,000 from the existing Tk 60,000, marking a 33.33 per cent increase.
The ministry has also proposed increasing the licence issuance fee for shotguns, guns and rifles to Tk 50,000 from Tk 40,000, representing a 25 per cent hike.
The renewal fee for pistols and revolvers is proposed to increase to Tk 30,000 from Tk 20,000, a 50 per cent rise.
The renewal fee for shotguns, guns and rifles is also set to increase by 50 per cent, to Tk 15,000 from Tk 10,000.
The licence issuance fee for safe-keeping services is proposed to double from Tk 30,000 to Tk 60,000, while its renewal fee will rise from Tk 6,000 to Tk 12,000.
Previously capped at Tk 500, or the main licence fee, whichever was lower, the new proposal introduces a separate fee structure for duplicate licences based on weapon type.
Under the proposal, obtaining a duplicate licence for a shotgun or rifle will cost Tk 2,000, while a duplicate licence for a pistol or revolver will cost Tk 3,000.
The home ministry has also proposed strict monetary penalties for delayed renewals.
If a district magistrate considers a late application acceptable, a delay fine equal to the full renewal fee -- Tk 10,000 for pistols and revolvers and Tk 5,000 for shotguns and rifles -- must be deposited along with the standard renewal fee.
Failure to provide an acceptable explanation will result in cancellation of the firearm licence and forfeiture of the weapon.
The proposal was placed at a meeting on reviewing and amending the Firearms Licence Issuance, Renewal and Use Policy-2025 held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in April.
The ministry has asked the finance ministry to take the next course of action in this regard.
When contacted, a senior home ministry official said, "The primary objective of this government initiative is, on the one hand, to increase revenue generation and, on the other, to control the number and indiscriminate use of firearms in society by creating high-cost barriers."
A Finance Division official said, "We have taken the necessary steps and are working further on the issue."
According to Police Headquarters, Bangladesh has 53,702 valid firearms licences issued to individuals, institutions and financial entities.
Of them, 48,283 are held by individuals, 4,854 by financial institutions and 565 by various organisations. As part of measures to ensure a free and peaceful 13th national election, the latest interim government instructed licence holders to surrender civilian firearms.
As a result, 27,995 firearms were deposited, while 20,288 unreturned weapons were declared illegal, prompting nationwide recovery operations until January 31.
Additionally, authorities are reviewing 22,151 licences issued on political considerations during the Awami League regime between 2009 and 2024. So far, 12,024 of these licences have been cancelled or suspended as part of efforts to curb potential violence.
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