Two JMB militants snatched away 2 convicted persons from in front of the main gate of Dhaka’s Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Sunday.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued a red alert in the country to prevent their escape from the borders.
Bangladesh Police in the meantime, have announced a reward of Tk 10 lakh for each on the two death-row convicts who were snatched away from a Dhaka court.
"A reward of Tk 10 lakh will be given to help arrest each of the two militants who escaped from the court," reads an SMS sent by Police Headquarters.
On Sunday at around 12 noon, two JMB militants nabbed the convicts - Moinul Hasan Shamim and Abu Siddiq Sohel. Mainul is from Madhavpur village of Chatak upazila of Sunamganj while Sohel is from Aditamari Upazila of Lalmonirhat district.
Both are members of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). They were sentenced to death in the murder case of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan and writer and blogger Abhijit Roy. Both were sentenced to death in Deepan's murder case.
DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Farooq confirmed the matter. He said, "We have issued a red alert. There has been an investigation committee in this incident. He also asked to stop and search every suspects vehicle at various check posts. In the meantime, the photos of the two fugitive terrorists have been sent to all the police stations.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Intelligence Branch (DB) chief Harun Or Rashid termed the incident of snatching the accused from the court premises as unexpected. He also said that they will be arrested soon.
Eyewitnesses said that the convicted militants were taken away on motorcycle after spraying the police in front of the main gate of the court with bullets. The driver of the motorcycle was another person.
Police have said that checkposts have been set up in different areas of the capital to catch the two fleeing militants. Every police station and other units have been instructed to set up check posts.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister told the reporters at his secretariat office on Sunday (November 20), that action will be taken if anyone is found negligent in the case of snatching of the convicts from the court premises. He also said that an investigation committee will be formed in this regard.