Bangladesh's Interim Government's Home Affairs Adviser, Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, has urged protesters to return all illegal and looted firearms, including rifles seized from law enforcement, by August 19. Speaking on Monday at the Combined Military Hospital after visiting injured paramilitary Bangladesh Ansar members, Hussain warned that failure to surrender these weapons would result in search operations, and those found in possession of unauthorized arms would face charges, according to The Daily Star.

The recent unrest that led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India last week, has left the nation in turmoil. The protests, which were sparked by anger over a controversial job quota system, resulted in the deaths of around 500 people, including students, with several thousand others injured.

Hussain specifically mentioned a video showing a youth seizing a 7.62 mm rifle, which has not been returned. He urged the public to hand over any looted weapons, even anonymously, to avoid further violence.

Hussain also addressed his earlier comments about shutting down media outlets for publishing misleading news, clarifying that it was a statement made in anger and that he does not support the closure of any media.

Last week, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of an interim government following Hasina's resignation. He is supported by a 16-member council of advisers to help manage the state’s affairs during this transition.