21 fishermen rescued from bandits in separate operation in Sundarbans, weapons seized

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Coast Guard has rescued 21 fishermen who were held hostage by bandits Dayal Bahini and Bara Jahangir’s forces in Sundarbans demanding ransom. At this time, weapons and ammunition were seized from the hideout of the bandits. On Thursday, two separate operations were conducted in the areas adjacent to Keoratala Canal and Bara Dudumukh Canal in Sundarbans and they were rescued.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam confirmed this on Friday afternoon. He said, under the direction of the government, special operations called ‘Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield’ are being conducted against the forest bandits active in Sundarbans. In continuation of this, two separate operations were conducted under ‘Operation Mangrove Shield’ for the seventh time.

According to Coast Guard sources, when the fishermen of Koira area of ​​Khulna and Shyamnagar area of ​​Satkhira went to Sundarbans to catch fish and crab, members of Dayal force took them hostage and demanded ransom. The fishermen were reportedly caught from areas adjacent to Firingi Canal and Kunchir Canal. Later, on the basis of intelligence information, the Coast Guard found out that the members of the Dayal Force with the hostage fishermen are staying in the Tota and Keoratala canal-adjacent areas of the Andaman area of ​​the Sundarbans under Koira Upazila. Based on this information, members of the Coast Guard Koira station conducted a raid there around four o’clock in the morning on Thursday.

Sensing the presence of the Coast Guard, the bandits fled into the forest. After searching the area, 10 fishermen who were held hostage by the Dayal forces were rescued. The rescued persons are Sabbir Hossain (22), Shahidul Islam (32), Aziz Molla (55), Mostafa Gazi (35), Saqib Hossain (26), Shahinur Alam (22), Abdul Malek (32), Jamirul (26), Sued Ali Molla (42) and Alamgir Molal (30). Their homes are in Koira of Khulna and Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira.

In the afternoon of the same day, a separate operation was conducted in the area adjacent to the Big Dudumukh Canal of the Sibsa River in the Sundarbans. Based on the intelligence information of Coast Guard and RAB, it is known that members of Bara Jahangir’s forces are staying in that area.

During the operation, the bandits fired at the Coast Guard. The bandits fled deep into the forest when the Coast Guard also fired back in self-defence. Later, a single-barreled gun, five live cartridges and an empty cartridge were recovered from there. At the same time, 11 other fishermen who were held hostage by the bandits were rescued.

The rescued persons are Yasin Munsi (24), Faizul Bepari (21), Hajizul Bepari (26), Idris Ali (25), Hriday Khan (18), Ibrahim Howladar (39), Salim Gazi (32), Hanif Howladar (48), Hussain Ali (24), Suman Howladar (39) and Suman Shikder (22). Their homes are in Patharghata of Barguna, Sarankhola of Bagerhat and Koira upazila of Khulna.

Coast Guard West Zone Executive Officer Lt. Sheikh Saadman Bin Mahmud said legal action is being taken regarding the seized weapons and ammunition. Besides, the process of handing over the rescued fishermen to their families is also going on. He also said that such operations against bandits and their associates will continue in the future to make the Sundarbans completely free of bandits.