Dhaka, Dec 28 (NationPress) Six convicted militants who made a daring escape from prison amid the unrest of July-August 2024 continue to evade capture, while 18 firearms looted during the chaotic prison break remain unaccounted for. Additionally, nearly 200 inmates facing charges related to militancy have been released on bail over the last eight months, with no updates on their current whereabouts, according to official sources.

A report from Times of Bangladesh highlighted, "These events have reignited concerns for security analysts, despite ongoing reassurances from high-ranking government officials and law enforcement that militancy is non-existent in Bangladesh. Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has repeatedly claimed there is no room for militancy in the nation."

"Moreover, Additional Inspector General Md Rezaul Karim, who assumed leadership of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) in late September, asserted that no militant actions have been noted in Bangladesh. In the past year and a half, no significant anti-militancy operations have been reported by the ATU or by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)," the report added.

An incident at the Ummul Qura International Madrasa in Hasnabad, located on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Friday serves as a stark reminder of potential militant threats. Following the explosion, the madrasa director, Sheikh Al Amin, aged 32, has gone into hiding. Police disclose that Amin is wanted in connection with several cases involving the outlawed militant group New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (New JMB). He has a history of multiple arrests and prison sentences, according to the report.

In conversation with Times of Bangladesh, ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), stated that the issue of militancy in Bangladesh remains unresolved and has become increasingly intricate.

He emphasized that many militants who fled during the prison break have yet to be recaptured, and numerous stolen weapons are still missing. Muniruzzaman, a retired major general, pointed out that law enforcement conditions in Bangladesh have deteriorated since August 5, 2024, stressing the urgency of improving security management.

According to findings reported by Times of Bangladesh, "Data from the courts and Prison Directorate indicates that 346 inmates received bail shortly after August 5, 2024. This group includes 12 notorious criminals, eight individuals convicted in the high-profile ten-truck arms haul case, and members of at least ten distinct organizations. In the initial eight months following the political transition, 148 members of the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were granted bail in cases related to alleged militant activities."

"Authorities have stated that those released include individuals previously identified as affiliates of banned extremist factions such as Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Ansarullah Bangla Team, Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, Ansar Al Islam, Imam Mahmud’s Kafela, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Hamza Brigade, Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), and Allah’r Dal. One significant case involves Jasim Uddin Rahmani, who was convicted and given a five-year sentence for the murder of blogger Rajib Haider and was alleged to lead Ansarullah Bangla Team. He was released on bail post-August 5 and later asserted that Ansarullah Bangla Team never existed," the report added.

As per Assistant Inspector General (Development) of Prisons Md Jannatul Farhad, 17 out of Bangladesh's 68 prisons were damaged during the mass protests of July–August 2024. A staggering 2,232 inmates escaped from five facilities during the turmoil, including 88 sentenced to death, as reported by Times of Bangladesh.

The unaccounted individuals include over 700 inmates, among them six convicted militants facing death sentences or lengthy prison terms. A total of 85 firearms were stolen during the prison assaults, with the largest breakout occurring at Narsingdi prison, where 826 inmates made their escape.