Despite a colonial-era law restricting the sale of weaponisable blades – the law regards anything above 7.5 inches long as a lethal weapon – there are no restrictions on the sale of butchers’ knives and machetes used to slaughter cattle. In kitchen markets like across the city, blacksmiths hawk an array of machetes, butcher’s knives, daggers and cleavers, their deadly wares spilling into the sidewalks fronting their workshops and stores. Blacksmith Liakat told the Dhaka Tribune that orders for butcher’s knives, machetes and cleavers had risen ahead of the festival of sacrifice. CTTC chief Monirul told the Dhaka Tribune that monitoring the sale of such a ubiquitous kitchen implement was impracticable. But it turned out that his alibi for staying at a hotel was legitimate and knives were being used to cut fruits.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 08, 2016 18:45 UTC