TDS Desk:

At least 43 top criminals and militants have walked out of jail on bail after the fall of Hasina-led government on 5 August.

As many as 17 jails came under attacks since 19 July, leading to the escape of over 2,000 inmates. Of them, more than 900, including 70 militants, are still on the run.

Brig Gen Syed Muhammad Motahar Hussain, inspector general of prisons, disclosed this to journalists while exchanging views with them at the Department of Prisons in the capital’s Bakshibazar on Tuesday.

During the prison attacks, the attackers and the inmates also looted 94 firearms from jails.

“We have so far recovered 65 of those firearms. Cases have been filed over the attacks and fleeing of inmates,” the IG prisons said.

He said 282 prison staff were injured in the attacks, and many of them are still undergoing treatment.

“The law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working to identify the attackers through analysing evidence.”