AL issued 18,273 arms licences, Altaf tells JS

Participating in the general discussion on budget, he said the then home minister issued licences to party men randomly flouting all rules and conditions.

Even arms licences were given to the accused in criminal case, killers, and dacoit and party criminals without police verification, he added.

The AL issued 3,636 arms licences during the last six months of its rule and 720 licences in the last month alone, Altaf said.

He said the then home minister Mohammad Nasim even issued licences to his wife, two sons and his domestic help.

Altaf said the AL government also gave licence to Jamuna Distillery to produce liquor.

He said Jamuna Distillery applied for production and marketing of liquor in the country to Awami League government on February 24, 1998. He said on May 9 the same year, the industry ministry gave the approval while the commerce ministry approved it on May 20. Finally, on July 19, 2001, the home ministry consented to the approval.

Then the Narcotics Control Department informed its additional director at Rajshahi of government approval to Jamuna Distillery to produce liquor. The Narcotics Department through another letter directed its Rajshahi office to get opinion on the quality of liquor produced by Jamuna Distillery from the five international standard hotels.

The home minister said, on the other hand the annual licence fee for foreign liquors was raised to Tk 20,000 from Tk 10,000 by the government.

He said prime minister has already asked to withdraw budget proposal for lowering duty on import of liquor.