Bangladesh prisons lost 2,240 inmates during uprising. Authorities are still searching for 690 inmates.

As many as 690 prisoners who escaped from jails across Bangladesh during the July uprising remain at large, inspector general of prisons Syed Muhammad Motahar Hussain said Tuesday.

Hussain said 2,240 prisoners escaped from prisons during the uprising, with most later arrested. Authorities have been unable to confirm the identities of 166 people who escaped from Narsingdi jail because prison servers, databases, and other records were damaged in attacks and arson.

Nine escapees were accused in militancy-related cases. Six have been arrested, while three remain at large.

Hussain also addressed allegations involving drugs and unauthorized mobile phones inside prisons, saying authorities had a “zero tolerance” policy on drugs and financial corruption.

“More than 3,000 mobile phones have been seized over the past year. The number is gradually coming down,” he said.