RAB yesterday announced rewards for the capture of fire-bombers or information leading to their arrests.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) declared the bounties in eight different packages ranging from Tk10,000 to Tk1 lakh to help trace the anarchists.
On the other hand, police declared Tk5 lakh as reward for those who can provide information about those who set fire to the passenger bus in the capital’s Jatrabari area on Friday night.
Just a year ago, law enforcers in 2013, also declared reward for the capture of the miscreants who unleashed violence but such announcement received hardly any response.
Director General of RAB Benazir Ahmed claimed that those who are involved in such crimes are hired goons.
“A group of people are hiring these criminals to perpetrate violence,” he said while addressing the media at the battalion headquarters yesterday.
“Killing innocent people in the name of movement cannot be a way to do politics. Rather it should be considered a criminal offence.”
None will be allowed to kill people by throwing petrol bombs, he cautioned.
The RAB boss further said those who would provide information about the miscreants involved in arson attacks will be reward with Tk1 lakh.
The same amount will also be given if anyone can help RAB catch petrol bomb attackers red-handed.
Informants will receive Tk50,000 if they are able to give information on those planning crude bomb attacks. They will receive Tk25,000 if they can identify and trace miscreants from published or aired information in the news.
Furthermore, there is a Tk25,000 reward for anyone who can help catch a crude bomb attacker on the spot and a Tk20,000 reward for anyone who can provide information on an attacker.
Moreover, anyone who can provide evidence through video or picture of an attacker carrying out arson or vandalism will be awarded Tk10,000.
The same amount is offered for an informant who can provide information through video or photographs of attackers.
The RAB DG further said the identity of the informers will be kept confidential.
The DG said they had received many responses after declaring a reward in 2013, and they are also hopeful about it this time.
“We will circulate leaflets, car stickers and air video on television channels to create awareness among people about the miscreants,” he added.
On the other hand, police in a press statement signed by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Jalaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury offered a Tk5 lakh reward for anyone who can provide information about attackers who set fire to the passenger bus in Jatrabari area on Friday night.
On Friday night, around 9:30pm some arsonists set fire to the passenger bus named Glory Paribahan in Katherpur area of Jatrabari while it was going from Gulistan to Rupganj.
A total of 31 people received burn injuries from the attack.
“Sub-inspector KM Nazmiuddin of Jatrabari police station filed a case in connection with the incident against 30 people on Saturday evening,” Abani Sankar, officer-in-charge of Jatrabari police station, told the Dhaka Tribune.
A case will also be filed against Khaleda Zia for aiding and abetting those involved in the arson attacks since January 6.
Earlier, on January 20, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal had also made a reward announcement.
The BNP-led 20-party has been observing nationwide non-stop roads and waterways blockade since January 6.
The current blockade has been marked by violence and sporadic clashes between the police and protesters, leaving a number of people killed and injured.
More than 35 people have been killed since the blockade has been enforced.
In the wake of such incidents of arson attacks, the government has announced rewards for catching anarchists responsible for violence during hartal and blockades.
However, as of yesterday, nobody has given police any information about the attackers.
Earlier, in December 2013, when political unrest in the country was at its peak, Dhaka Metropolitan Police published a list of 11 individuals and declared Tk1 lakh bounty for each of them after a group of criminals vandalised and set fire to cars and shops and exploded bombs near the Fakirarpul Kitchen Market in the capital.
