Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday announced increased cash rewards for people providing information leading to the recovery of looted and illegal firearms as part of intensified efforts to recover such weapons.

The minister warned that police officers who fail to make expected progress within the stipulated timeframe in curbing terrorism, extortion and drug-related crimes will face strict legal and administrative action.

The minister made the remarks while speaking at a press briefing after attending as the chief guest the Quarterly Crime Review Conference (April-June 2026: Second Quarter) organised by Police Headquarters at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh

Under the newly revised reward scheme, informants will receive up to Tk 2 lakh for information leading to the recovery of heavy weapons while those providing information on pistols, revolvers or shotguns will be rewarded up to Tk 50,000, said the minister.

Besides, people providing information leading to the recovery of sound grenades, looted tear-gas shells and other looted weapons will receive rewards of Tk 10,000, Tk 15,000 or Tk 20,000, depending on the circumstances, the minister said.

He assured that the identities of informants would be kept completely confidential.

Salahuddin said the government is regularly adopting strategic plans to bring the country’s law and order situation to the desired level and improve the image of the police by turning the force into a public-friendly and people-oriented institution.

He said a special unit has already been formed in coordination with various intelligence agencies to intensify operations to recover looted and illegal firearms.

Salahuddin said weapons whose cancelled licences were not surrendered within the stipulated deadline have already been treated as illegal firearms and cases have been filed, while drives to recover them are continuing.

He added that special strategic operations are being conducted across the country with assistance from intelligence agencies to prevent illegal arms, drugs, smuggling and extortion.

Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir chaired the conference, while Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Manzur Morshed Chowdhury addressed it as a special guest.

Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Khandaker Rafiqul Islam delivered the welcome speech. Additional IGP (Administration) AKM Awlad Hossain, among others, was present.

During the conference, the minister responded to various questions from DIGs of different ranges, police commissioners and additional police commissioners of different metropolitan areas, and superintendents of police (SPs) of different districts and exchanged views.