Six convicted militants who fled prison during the 2024 upheaval in Bangladesh are still on the run, with 18 firearms stolen from damaged prisons yet to be recovered. Concerns have been raised as nearly 200 inmates linked to militancy were released on bail in the past eight months, and their current whereabouts remain unknown, as per official sources.
Security analysts are alarmed by these developments despite government assurances that militancy is not prevalent in Bangladesh. Officials like Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Additional Inspector General Md Rezaul Karim have repeatedly stated that there is no room for militancy in the country. However, recent events, such as an explosion at a madrasa in Dhaka, have underscored potential militant threats.
President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), ANM Muniruzzaman, highlighted the unresolved militancy issue in Bangladesh, emphasizing the growing complexity of the challenge. He noted that many escaped militants remain at large, and a significant number of stolen weapons have not been recovered, pointing to a deteriorating law and order situation since August 2024.
Data from the courts and the Prison Directorate revealed that a considerable number of inmates, including individuals associated with various outlawed extremist groups, were released on bail post the political transition in August 2024. This group includes individuals linked to high-profile cases and banned organizations like Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Notable among those released is Jasim Uddin Rahmani, previously convicted in a blogger’s murder case.
Assistant Inspector General (Development) of Prisons Md Jannatul Farhad disclosed that 17 out of Bangladesh’s 68 prisons were damaged during the mass protests in July-August 2024, leading to the escape of over 2,200 inmates, including some on death row. The situation remains critical as a significant number of inmates, including convicted militants, are still unaccounted for, with a substantial quantity of firearms missing.
