Govt offers up to Tk 200,000 in renewed drive to recover looted, illegal arms

The government has raised cash rewards for information leading to the recovery of looted and illegal firearms, with informants now eligible for up to Tk 2 lakh for helping authorities recover heavy weapons, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Saturday.

Under the revised reward scheme, information leading to the recovery of pistols, revolvers or shotguns will carry a reward of up to Tk 50,000. Informants can also receive Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000 for information resulting in the recovery of sound grenades, looted tear-gas shells and other stolen weapons, depending on the case.

Speaking at a press briefing after the Quarterly Crime Review Conference at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh, Salahuddin said the identities of informants would be kept strictly confidential.

He said a special unit has been formed in coordination with intelligence agencies to step up efforts to recover looted and illegal weapons across the country.

The minister also warned that police officers who fail to make the expected progress within the designated timeframe in tackling terrorism, extortion and drug-related crimes would face strict legal and administrative action.

He said the government was adopting strategic measures to improve the country‍‍`s law and order situation and restore public confidence in the police by making the force more people-oriented.

According to Salahuddin, firearms whose cancelled licences were not surrendered within the prescribed deadline have already been classified as illegal, and cases have been filed against those involved. Operations to recover the weapons are continuing.

He added that coordinated operations involving intelligence agencies were also underway to curb illegal arms, drugs, smuggling and extortion.

The conference reviewed crime trends and law enforcement activities during the April-June 2026 quarter. DIGs, police commissioners, additional police commissioners and district SPs took part in discussions with the minister on the country‍‍`s overall law and order situation.