The government has announced cash rewards ranging from Tk 50,000 to Tk 500,000 for anyone providing information leading to the recovery of firearms looted from law enforcement during last year’s student-led uprising.
Speaking at the Secretariat after a meeting of the Law and Order Core Committee on Monday, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the initiative is part of a special drive to trace hundreds of missing weapons.
“Anyone who provides information about the looted pistols or shotguns will receive Tk 50,000. For a Chinese rifle the reward is Tk 100,000, for an SMG Tk 150,000, and for an LMG Tk 500,000. In addition, each round of looted ammunition will carry a reward of Tk 500,” the adviser stated. He assured that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.
Background of Looted Arms
On 5 August 2024, during the mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, several police stations, outposts, and prisons across the country were attacked, with large quantities of firearms and ammunition taken away. While some of those weapons have since been recovered, the home ministry earlier admitted that at least 700 remain missing.
Broader Law and Order Concerns
Jahangir Alam also addressed other issues raised in the media. Referring to a recent report on Gazipur’s police commissioner causing public suffering by blocking roads during his commute, he said, “He will be served a show-cause notice, and the Inspector General of Police will take necessary action.”
On another query, he confirmed that steps are being taken to bring back a Bangladeshi police officer arrested in India, with cooperation from Interpol and border security agencies.
He further claimed that incidents of mob violence had decreased, though not disappeared entirely, and expressed hope that they would diminish further ahead of the upcoming elections.
“The government is working with everyone’s cooperation to ensure a fair, free, and festive election,” the adviser added.
