A gang of pirates has long been desperate in the different coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar and Banshkhali of Chittagong in absence of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned.
Consequently, the fishing boats have been victim of robbery in the sea and even the pirates fatally injured some fishermen during the crimes.
On the other hand, the local administration is yet to take any meaningful measures to prevent the pirates despite having repeated call from the victims.
Sources said ringleader Nokib from Sonadia controls the pirates and there are above 100 members in the gang. They are divided into ten groups and the pirates have been looting fishes and belongings of the boats fish in Banshkhali, Kutubdia, Pekua, Moheshkhali and Chakaria areas in the sea.
In Sonadia area, Bahdur Miah’s son Sarwar alias Botoilla, Mosan Ali’s son Anju Miah, Ekhlas Miah’s son Jambu, Sher Ali’s son Faruk are on the leading row of the gang.
Locals alleged Nokib’s father Abdul Gafur Nago, UP member of Sonadia island, has been playing a godfather role behind the gang.
Sources at Cox’s Bazar Boat Owners Samity said the gang looted about 50 fishing boats following the sprawling period of Ilish this year and they beat up about 100 fishermen mercilessly, leaving them critically injured.
Recently, police have arrested some pirates who confessed Nokib’s involvement in the offences as well, but the local administration surprisingly is yet to arrest the bigwigs of the gang.
When asked, Cox’s Bazar Boat Owners Samity President Mujibur Rahman acknowledged the desperate movement of the pirates and said congenial environment might return to the sector following the arrest of the identified pirates.
Cox’s Bazar Boat Owners Samity Organising Secretary Mostak said: “The pirates have developed a safe den in Sonadia because it is an isolated area and the administration does not conduct any drive there. A Coast Guard camp was unnecessarily established on the Bakkhali estuary. We have repeatedly urged upon the authorities concerned to shift the camp to Sonadia for sea patrolling to prevent the pirates.”
Coast Guard Cox’s Bazar Station’s PT Officer Nannu Miah said: “Manpower crisis lingers the camp shifting to Sonadia although we have increased the number of raids in the sea. In line with the move, we are trying best to arrest the pirates of Nokib gang.”
Moheshkhali police station Officer-in-Charge Saikul Islam Bhuiyan said: “Nago member’s son Nokib is a daring pirate and he has been desperately committing robbery one after another in the sea. He is accused in several cases and police have failed to arrest him despite many raids in different areas for six months. Police remain active to nab Nakib.”