Wednesday, 27 August, 2025
More than 700 inmates who escaped during and after the July–August mass uprising remain untraced, including convicts on death row and militants, the Inspector General of Prisons, Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain, disclosed on Tuesday. The announcement came during a press conference at the prison headquarters, marking the first anniversary of his appointment as IG Prisons.
According to Brig Gen Motaher Hossain, over 2,200 inmates fled from six major jails amid the violence, arson, and vandalism that erupted during the uprising. While a significant number of escapees returned voluntarily and others were recaptured, more than 700 individuals remain at large, posing ongoing challenges for law enforcement.
“Among those still absconding are nine militants and 60 prisoners who have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment,” he said, underlining the serious security risks posed by the continued absence of these convicts.
The IG Prisons also addressed concerns regarding looted firearms during the unrest. He confirmed that 29 firearms, along with unspecified amounts of ammunition, have not yet been recovered. He reminded the public that the Home Affairs Adviser had announced a reward for anyone providing information leading to the return of the missing weapons.
The mass escapes occurred against the backdrop of nationwide unrest in July and August, during which widespread protests, strikes, and confrontations with law enforcement caused extensive damage to public property and infrastructure. Prison facilities, already stretched by overcrowding and limited resources, were heavily targeted, enabling large-scale breaks.
The six affected jails included Dhaka Central Jail, Gazipur Jail, Chittagong Central Jail, Jessore Jail, Comilla Jail, and Rajshahi Jail. Dhaka Central Jail, housing the largest number of convicts including death row inmates, was particularly hard hit, with inmates taking advantage of damaged gates and disrupted security to flee. Gazipur and Chittagong jails also saw coordinated attacks, where mobs set fire to administrative buildings, destroyed surveillance equipment, and overpowered guards. In smaller facilities such as Jessore and Rajshahi, inmates exploited weak staffing and poor infrastructure to break out in smaller groups, though many were quickly recaptured.
This is not the first time Bangladesh has witnessed large-scale prison escapes. In 2018, a group of more than 150 inmates escaped from Comilla Jail during a violent protest, while in 2020, Gazipur Jail experienced a smaller breakout in which several high-profile criminals briefly absconded. Experts note that repeated incidents underscore chronic weaknesses in prison management, security protocols, and emergency preparedness.
Security analysts warn that the remaining absconding inmates, particularly those on death row and militants, pose a serious threat to public safety if not apprehended soon. The government has reportedly intensified surveillance and coordination among police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and intelligence agencies to track the fugitives. River, road, and border checkpoints have been strengthened, and additional patrols are being deployed around areas identified as potential hideouts.
The IG Prisons reiterated the urgency of recovering both the escaped inmates and the missing firearms, noting that maintaining the integrity of the prison system and public confidence in law enforcement remain top priorities. “We are working tirelessly to locate these escapees and secure the looted weapons. Public cooperation is vital,” he said.
In response to past incidents, the government has initiated a series of reforms to improve prison security. Measures include upgrading surveillance systems, increasing staffing levels, reinforcing cell blocks and perimeter walls, and introducing biometric tracking of inmates. Training programmes for guards have been intensified, focusing on crisis management, anti-riot tactics, and rapid response coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
Human rights groups continue to advocate for broader reforms, stressing that overcrowding, insufficient healthcare, and inadequate rehabilitation programs contribute to unrest within jails. Experts argue that a combination of better infrastructure, stricter security, and rehabilitation-focused programmes will be essential to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While the government remains committed to recovering all absconding inmates, the episode serves as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities in the prison system and the continuing challenges of maintaining law and order in the aftermath of large-scale civil unrest.
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More than 700 inmates who escaped during and after the July–August mass uprising remain untraced, including convicts on death row and militants, the Inspector General of Prisons, Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain, disclosed on Tuesday. The announcement came during a press conference at the prison headquarters, marking the first anniversary of his appointment as IG Prisons.
According to Brig Gen Motaher Hossain, over 2,200 inmates fled from six major jails amid the violence, arson, and vandalism that erupted during the uprising. While a significant number of escapees returned voluntarily and others were recaptured, more than 700 individuals remain at large, posing ongoing challenges for law enforcement.
“Among those still absconding are nine militants and 60 prisoners who have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment,” he said, underlining the serious security risks posed by the continued absence of these convicts.
The IG Prisons also addressed concerns regarding looted firearms during the unrest. He confirmed that 29 firearms, along with unspecified amounts of ammunition, have not yet been recovered. He reminded the public that the Home Affairs Adviser had announced a reward for anyone providing information leading to the return of the missing weapons.
The mass escapes occurred against the backdrop of nationwide unrest in July and August, during which widespread protests, strikes, and confrontations with law enforcement caused extensive damage to public property and infrastructure. Prison facilities, already stretched by overcrowding and limited resources, were heavily targeted, enabling large-scale breaks.
The six affected jails included Dhaka Central Jail, Gazipur Jail, Chittagong Central Jail, Jessore Jail, Comilla Jail, and Rajshahi Jail. Dhaka Central Jail, housing the largest number of convicts including death row inmates, was particularly hard hit, with inmates taking advantage of damaged gates and disrupted security to flee. Gazipur and Chittagong jails also saw coordinated attacks, where mobs set fire to administrative buildings, destroyed surveillance equipment, and overpowered guards. In smaller facilities such as Jessore and Rajshahi, inmates exploited weak staffing and poor infrastructure to break out in smaller groups, though many were quickly recaptured.
This is not the first time Bangladesh has witnessed large-scale prison escapes. In 2018, a group of more than 150 inmates escaped from Comilla Jail during a violent protest, while in 2020, Gazipur Jail experienced a smaller breakout in which several high-profile criminals briefly absconded. Experts note that repeated incidents underscore chronic weaknesses in prison management, security protocols, and emergency preparedness.
Security analysts warn that the remaining absconding inmates, particularly those on death row and militants, pose a serious threat to public safety if not apprehended soon. The government has reportedly intensified surveillance and coordination among police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and intelligence agencies to track the fugitives. River, road, and border checkpoints have been strengthened, and additional patrols are being deployed around areas identified as potential hideouts.
The IG Prisons reiterated the urgency of recovering both the escaped inmates and the missing firearms, noting that maintaining the integrity of the prison system and public confidence in law enforcement remain top priorities. “We are working tirelessly to locate these escapees and secure the looted weapons. Public cooperation is vital,” he said.
In response to past incidents, the government has initiated a series of reforms to improve prison security. Measures include upgrading surveillance systems, increasing staffing levels, reinforcing cell blocks and perimeter walls, and introducing biometric tracking of inmates. Training programmes for guards have been intensified, focusing on crisis management, anti-riot tactics, and rapid response coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
Human rights groups continue to advocate for broader reforms, stressing that overcrowding, insufficient healthcare, and inadequate rehabilitation programs contribute to unrest within jails. Experts argue that a combination of better infrastructure, stricter security, and rehabilitation-focused programmes will be essential to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While the government remains committed to recovering all absconding inmates, the episode serves as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities in the prison system and the continuing challenges of maintaining law and order in the aftermath of large-scale civil unrest.
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