Home Minister announces reward for helping arrest Awami League collaborators

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has issued a strong directive to police to use intelligence information to bring collaborators of the banned organisation Awami League under the law. At the same time, he announced rewards for those who play an effective role in arresting such absconding individuals.

The Home Minister made the announcement while speaking as chief guest at the medal award ceremony of 'Police Week 2026' at 11am on Saturday, September 26.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, "We will reward those who can bring the collaborators of the Awami force under the law. Two such strong collaborators of fascism were arrested last week, and another yesterday."

Raising questions about the role of law enforcement agencies, he further said, "They had been hiding here all this time. Where was our intelligence support? I consider the police's intelligence support to be the best. I am not here to compare it with the intelligence support of other organisations. You use your intelligence support."

Warning of strict legal action against those trying to create instability in the country, the Home Minister highlighted the picture of the July-August mass uprising and human rights violations during the previous government. He said that according to UN estimates, about 1,400 citizens were killed in this country in one month. "Can the people of Bangladesh ever call upon that force, which can kill 1,400 people in a month, which can kill the country's citizens by shooting from the sky, which could turn Bangladesh into a democracy-less state by politicising all of Bangladesh's institutions? Can the people of this country ever want them to do politics in Bangladesh?"

He further said, "Those who have never expressed sorrow, have no remorse, and have not sought forgiveness even after that barbaric massacre, are now raising their voices from outside Bangladesh."

He also spoke about the government's steps to bring back convicted fugitive accused, including Sheikh Hasina. The Home Minister said, "We have made an official request to the neighbouring state. Return the convicted fugitive accused, including Sheikh Hasina and other accused."

However, noting that the opportunity remains open for the fugitives to return home voluntarily, the minister said, "If they come voluntarily and face the law, then that is good. The law will move at its own pace, it will move according to its own course."

At the event, the Home Minister adorned 98 police members with the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and the President's Police Medal (PPM). Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir and other senior police officials were present at the time.