The government has announced cash rewards ranging from Tk 500 to Tk 500,000 for information leading to the recovery of weapons looted during last year’s August 5 uprising.
Home Affairs Adviser Major General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury disclosed the initiative on Monday after a meeting on law and order.
According to him, a reward of Tk 50,000 will be given for information on pistols or shotguns, Tk 100,000 for a Chinese rifle, Tk 150,000 for an SMG, and Tk 500,000 for an LMG. For each bullet, informants will receive Tk 500.
The adviser clarified that the reward program applies to firearms and ammunition stolen from police stations and depots during the unrest. He assured that the identities of informants will remain strictly confidential.
Following the fall of the government in the August 5 uprising, police stations and outposts across the country were attacked, vandalized, and set on fire. A large cache of arms and ammunition was looted, some of which has since been used in robberies and other crimes.
Police estimates show that 1,363 firearms and 257,720 rounds of ammunition remain missing. Law enforcement officials and political leaders fear these weapons could be used to create chaos ahead of the upcoming national election.
However, Adviser Jahangir expressed confidence that if political parties and the public remain focused on the election, there will be no major security concerns. He pledged a peaceful and credible election with the cooperation of all.
The adviser also warned against corruption in recruitment processes, saying that any involvement in so-called “recruitment business” would face legal action.
Acknowledging that his position had attracted “friends and relatives,” he cautioned that if anyone close to him engaged in extortion or other crimes, the public should report it.
Addressing journalists, Jahangir urged accurate reporting: “If we commit corruption, please write about it. But do not publish wrong information, as the damage caused by such reporting cannot be undone with protests.”
He also confirmed that a show-cause notice had been issued to the Gazipur police commissioner after allegations surfaced that he was blocking roads during his daily commute.
