United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday announced increased cash rewards for people providing information leading to the recovery of looted and illegal firearms as part of intensified efforts to recover such weapons. The minister warned that police officers who fail to make expected progress within the stipulated timeframe in curbing terrorism, extortion and drug-related crimes will face strict legal and administrative action. The minister made the remarks while speaking at a press briefing after attending as the chief guest the Quarterly Crime Review Conference (April-June 2026: Second Quarter) organised by Police Headquarters at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh Under the newly revised reward scheme, informants will receive up to Tk 2 lakh for information leading to the recovery of heavy weapons while those providing information on pistols, revolvers or shotguns will be rewarded up to Tk 50,000, said the minister. Besides, people providing information leading to the recovery of sound grenades, looted tear-gas shells and other looted weapons will receive rewards of Tk 10,000, Tk 15,000 or Tk 20,000, depending on the circumstances, the minister said. He assured that the identities of informants would be kept completely confidential. Salahuddin said the government is regularly adopting strategic plans to bring the country’s law and order situation to the desired level and improve the image of the police by turning the force into a public-friendly and people-oriented institution. He said a special unit has already been formed in coordination with various intelligence agencies to intensify operations to recover looted and illegal firearms. Salahuddin said weapons whose cancelled licences were not surrendered within the stipulated deadline have already been treated as illegal firearms and cases have been filed, while drives to recover them are continuing. He added that special strategic operations are being conducted across the country with assistance from intelligence agencies to prevent illegal arms, drugs, smuggling and extortion. Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir chaired the conference, while Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Manzur Morshed Chowdhury addressed it as a special guest. Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Khandaker Rafiqul Islam delivered the welcome speech. Additional IGP (Administration) AKM Awlad Hossain, among others, was present. During the conference, the minister responded to various questions from DIGs of different ranges, police commissioners and additional police commissioners of different metropolitan areas, and superintendents of police (SPs) of different districts and exchanged views.

Candidates contesting from Kushtia-4 constituency have expressed concern over looted and illegal firearms ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum, urging authorities to ensure a peaceful and fair vote. The concerns were raised at a views-exchange meeting on law and order with Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jhasim Uddin at Abul Hossain Tarun Auditorium in Kumarkhali on Saturday. The candidates warned that weapons looted from police stations on August 5 are yet to be fully recovered and alleged that illegal arms are being moved through the Padma-Garai river routes, which could threaten a free and fair election. Read More: Man held with arms, ammo in Gazipur Responding to the concerns, SP Mohammad Jhasim Uddin said 55 firearms had gone missing from Kushtia, of which 38 have already been recovered. He assured that recovery drives would continue until every weapon is retrieved. “I promise that no one will be allowed to use arms in Kushtia. We will recover all illegal weapons and ensure a free, fair, neutral and peaceful election,” the SP said, urging all candidates to follow the election code of conduct.

Drives will be conducted to seize arms and ammunition entering the country illegally, said Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Sunday. “According to reports of intelligence agencies, many arms and ammunition are entering the country illegally and drives will be conducted in the areas where illegal arms smuggling is taking place on specific information,” he said. The minister revealed this information while talking to reporters after the cabinet committee meeting on law and order situation at the Home Ministry. Many people have made fake licences for arms and these will be scrutinised, he added. Talking about Rohingya, Mozammel said “The Rohingyas do not want to leave the country. In order to facilitate their return to their own country, the law and order situation will be maintained at the Rohingya camps apart from the diplomatic efforts. Besides, the NGOs working at the Rohingya camps have to disclose details of their money given by different organisations to see how much money they spent for Rohingyas. “There are allegations about many NGOs that they do terror financing…It will be investigated,” he said. Referring to cybercrime, the minister said law enforcement agencies are trying and they have sent letters to different social networking sites including Facebook, and Youtube but no response has come yet. Also read: 3 ‘members of new militant outfit’ held with arms, explosives in Bandarban He also demanded the opening of an office of social networking sites by which false propaganda can be controlled. Referring to the drug issue, Mozammel said a discussion was held over how to control the use of drugs. Already, a list has been published naming the drug peddlers, drug users and smugglers, but a permanent list will be made, he said. Also read: Smuggled firearms “from India” causing concern for Bangladesh law enforcers Besides, a brief discussion was held over the security ahead of the February 21st as measures hasve been taken to ensure security for diplomats as they can pay tribute easily, said the minister. Talking about the law and order situation, Mozammel said “The law and order situation is normal now and we are satisfied with it.” He also urged the law enforcers to refrain from doing anything which can tarnish the image of the law enforcers.  

A special operational team of Bangladesh Army under Roma Zone conducted a drive at Minjhiripara of Bandarban district and seized illegal arms, ammunition and other contraband items after a brief gunfight with a group of terrorists early Tuesday. On the basis of secret information, the operational Army team conducted the drive at hilly terrorists’ hideout at Minjhiripara at around 3:35 am. They reached the targeted area overcoming various natural obstacles and inaccessible mountain paths. Also read: Army operation in Bandarban: Weapons, huge amount of ammunition and equipment recovered As the operational team approached the terrorist hideout, the army exchanged fire with the terrorist group and at one point the terrorists fled their hideout, said an Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) press release on Tuesday afternoon. Later, they searched the terrorists' hideout and found 2 Russian made SMGs, three magazines, 12 rounds of SMG ammunition, three rounds of pistol ammunition, a knife, 100 grams each of cannabis and opium, 750 ml of local made liquor, one solar charger and one combat bag. Also read: ‘Police, Ansar, BGB to be deployed at vacant CHT army camps’ It is to be noted that this terrorist group besides collecting donations from the locals through terrorist activities, it has been carrying out various anti-social campaigns through various social media against the country and the security forces.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested a driver of Paribahan pool under Directorate General of Health Services from Turag area in the city early Sunday.

Police on Wednesday submitted chargesheets against Regent Group Chairman Mohammad Shahed Karim in two separate cased filed for keeping illegal arms and foreign currency.