Ahead of Elections, Bangladesh Offers Cash Rewards for Return of Stolen Guns

The Bangladesh Police have announced a cash reward scheme to recover stolen firearms and ammunition from police armouries, as authorities step up efforts to secure law and order ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections

Under the initiative, individuals who return missing police weapons will be compensated according to the type of firearm: Tk 5 lakh for each Light Machine Gun (LMG), Tk 1.5 lakh for Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), Tk 1 lakh for China-rifles, and Tk 50,000 for pistols or shotguns. A reward of Tk 500 per round of ammunition recovered is also being offered. Officials have assured that the identities of informants and submitters will remain confidential The scheme follows widespread looting of police armouries and outposts during unrest in August 2024. Despite previous efforts, only 25 firearms and roughly 190 rounds of ammunition have been recovered, leaving over 1,300 weapons and more than 257,000 rounds still missing Authorities have emphasized the urgency of retrieving the stolen arms, noting the heightened risk of political violence, criminal activity, and public safety threats as the February 2026 elections approach. Experts warn that many of the missing firearms may already be in the hands of criminal or extremist groups, complicating recovery efforts The reward initiative reflects the government’s dual aim of deterring illegal possession of firearms and demonstrating control over security ahead of the elections. Officials hope the program will encourage citizens to come forward and help restore dangerous arms to law enforcement agencies