690 inmates still at large after Bangladesh prison break

As many as 690 inmates who escaped from various prisons across Bangladesh during the July Uprising are still at large, according to Inspector General of Prisons Syed Muhammad Motahar Hussain. He stated at a press briefing that the identities of 166 of these fugitives remain unconfirmed.

In total, 2,240 prisoners managed to escape from different correctional facilities during the period of unrest. Hussain confirmed that the majority of these escapees have since been arrested by law enforcement agencies. However, the task of tracking down the remaining individuals is proving difficult, especially for the 166 unidentified escapees.

The challenge in identifying and recapturing some prisoners is compounded by damage to prison records, including servers and databases. This occurred during attacks and arson incidents at facilities like the Narsingdi jail. Without proper records, authorities lack crucial information such as names, addresses, and case details for these individuals.

Among the escapees were individuals accused in militancy-related cases. While six of these nine militants have been arrested, three remain at large. The prison authorities are cooperating with law enforcement agencies by providing necessary information and assistance to facilitate the apprehension of all fugitives. The IG Prisons emphasized that the responsibility for the arrests lies with the police and other security forces.