"Police have already raided different places to arrest Bangla Bhai and other criminals in a bid to stop criminal activities," Harris told BBC Bangla Service last night.

"The PM's instructions are already there to stop any sort of criminal activities," he said, denying allegations that the government is lending support to unlawful activities including anti-outlaw operations by Jagrata Musliam Janata Bangladesh, of which Bangla Bhai is the operations commander.

Earlier, Noor Mohammad, deputy inspector general of police in Rajshahi division, announced the reward for information leading to the capture of Bangla Bhai.

Harris brushed aside media reports on Bangla Bhai, saying: "Newspapers in Bangladesh can write whatever they wish as they don't care about accountability."

"No matter what the newspapers say, but the bottom line is that the government is not harbouring criminals," he added.

He also played down the allegations of human rights groups that the government was lending support to the JMJB, saying: "I would have shown more respect to their activities, had they come up with evidence."