Frequent attacks by pirates and forest robbers have put both lives and livelihood of the members of the fishermen community in grave peril in the Bay of Bengal and the Sundarbans.
About two lakh fishermen have to remain always in a state of panic as over 20 infamous gangs of forest robbers and pirates continue their operations in the Bay and the Sundarbans.
It is getting difficult to deal with these forest robbers and pirates who are relentlessly committing criminal activities despite drives conducted frequently by the law enforcement agencies.
On February 17, pirates kidnapped 40 fishermen with 10 trawlers at Katka under Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat, reports UNB.
Earlier, a fisherman was killed and eight others were injured when robbers opened fire on them in the Raimangal River in the Sundarbans yesterday.
In April last year, robbers killed 27 fishermen after abduction and dumped the bodies into the Bay.
Later, law enforcers recovered floating bodies of the fishermen from the sea.
Accusing the armed robbers of extorting money from them at gunpoint, many fishermen said if the criminals fail to realise tolls, they attack fishermen’s boats either to loot fishing materials or to abduct them for ransom.
To catch fish in the Bay, fishermen, in many cases, have to collect tokens from the robbers after paying tolls.
Expressing serious concern over their security in the Bay, M Farid Hossain, a fisherman, said they did not feel safe in the Bay because of frequent attacks by the robbers.
The frightened fisherman said he was looking for alternative source of income to survive with his wife and children.
Echoing Farid, Dulal Forazi, president of Sharankhola upazila Matsyajibi Samity said members of 25 pirate and forest robber gangs were running their activities openly in different areas of the Sunbarbans and the Bay.
Thousands of fishermen fall prey to their attacks every year, he said, adding that the criminals often abduct the innocent fish catchers for ransom.
Families of the fishermen have to spend time amid panic until their return from the sea, he added.
Commanding Officer of Rab-8 Barisal Lieutenant Colonel Faridul Alam said some 55 robbers, including 12 ringleaders, were killed in gunfights with law enforcers over the last four years.
He said seven robbers were killed in 2010, 18 in 2011, 17 in 2012 and 13 in 2013 during drives conducted by them.
The deceased ringleaders of the robber gangs are Dakter Manik, Krishna Sagar, Motallab, Julfiqur, Sohag, Zihad, Nabakumar, Gama, Meghna Zakir, Shahidul, Mahbub alias Saijja and Amjad.
Fishermen said following the deaths of Motallab, Zulfiqur, Shohag and Zihad, activities of the gangs led by them remained halted for some days.
However, their followers later took the helm of the gangs, re-organised themselves and restarted criminal activities.
The fish catchers also said 12 notorious robbers are running gangs comprised of their 600 accomplices in the eastern and western parts of the Sunbarbans, adding that some other gangs, comprised of several hundred robbers, are also active in the Bay.
Deputy Director of Barisal Divisional Fisheries Department Dr AKM Aminul Islam said about two lakh fishermen of 145 upazilas in 40 districts caught fish in the Bay.
Besides, another two lakh people catch aquatic creatures in different rivers on the coast.
Members of the law enforcement agencies are conducting either joint or separate drives against the bandits.
Earlier, National Taskforce Committee was formed to check the robbers to ensure safe catching of fish resources by the fishermen.
But the measures failed to prevent the pirates and forest robbers from committing criminal activities.