From militants to top criminals: A look at Bangladesh's history of cash rewards to capture fugitives
Over the years, successive governments, law enforcement agencies and even border security forces have announced cash incentives to capture top criminals, militants and fugitives, as well as to recover looted weapons
The interim government's announcement of a Tk50 lakh reward for information leading to the arrest of Faisal Karim Masud alias Daud Khan – accused in the attempted murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi – has once again brought attention to Bangladesh's long-standing practice of offering cash incentives to track down fugitives.
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury disclosed the reward today (13 December) following a meeting of the law and order core committee.
However, this is far from the first time authorities have resorted to financial rewards to apprehend suspects.
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Over the years, successive governments, law enforcement agencies and even border security forces have announced cash incentives to capture top criminals, militants and fugitives, as well as to recover looted weapons.
Rewards for recovering looted arms
Following last year's July Uprising, a large cache of firearms and ammunition was looted from police stations and prisons. To recover these, the government announced rewards for genuine informants.
On 5 November, Police Headquarters said informants would receive Tk5 lakh for a looted light machine gun (LMG), Tk1.5 lakh for a sub-machine gun (SMG), Tk1 lakh for a China rifle, and Tk50,000 for pistols and shotguns.
Additionally, Tk500 was announced for each recovered round of bullets. Police assured that informants' identities would be kept strictly confidential.
Recent reward announcements
Earlier this year, reports emerged claiming police officers would be rewarded Tk5,000 each for arresting Awami League and its affiliated organisation activists.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), however, later said it had no official knowledge of such a directive.
In January, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) announced a reward for information leading to the arrest of top criminal Md Sajjad Hossain, popularly known as "Chhoto Sajjad".
In a press release, the CMP said that anyone who provides accurate information regarding the whereabouts of Sajjad Hossain to bring him to justice will be rewarded with a suitable cash reward.
Sajjad was later arrested on 15 March at the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in Dhaka. He faces 19 cases, including 10 murder charges, though he is currently out on bail.
Around the same time, the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) announced rewards for information to capture top criminal "Grenade Babu" and seven others, although the exact amounts were not disclosed.
Rewards under previous governments
The practice dates back decades. In November 2022, police announced a Tk20 lakh reward, Tk10 lakh each, for information on two death-row militants of the banned outfit Ansar Al Islam, who were snatched from police custody outside a Dhaka court.
In February 2022, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) announced a Tk10 lakh reward for notorious criminal Nabi Hossain, accused of arms and drug trafficking along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. He was eventually arrested in August 2024.
In August 2016, police announced Tk20 lakh rewards each for neo-JMB leader Tamim Chowdhury and Ansar Al Islam leader Major Zia, along with rewards for eight other militants.
Tamim was later killed in a police operation, while Major Zia remains at large.
Earlier, in February 2014, police announced rewards for three JMB militants who were freed in a deadly attack on a prison van in Trishal, Mymensingh. Each carried a Tk2 lakh reward.
Rewards during BNP rule
During the BNP-led government, a list of 23 top criminals was published in December 2001. Rewards of Tk1 lakh were announced for eight of them, while the remaining 15 carried rewards of Tk50,000 each.
The list included notorious figures such as Subrata Bain, Molla Masud, Kala Jahangir, Freedom Sohel and Killer Abbas, among others.
