Fifty-two members of four bandit gangs operating in the Sundarbans have surrendered to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), following sustained operations by RAB-6 to curb criminal activities in the world’s largest mangrove forest.
The four gangs are Baro Jahangir Bahini, with 16 members; Anarul Bahini, with 13; Afzal alias Dulabhai Bahini, with 15; and Aftab Bahini, with eight.
RAB-6 Commander Lt Col Nistar Ahmed said the simultaneous surrender of 52 members of the four gangs was an important step towards maintaining security and stability in the Sundarbans.
He said the development was expected to weaken the organisational capacity and criminal activities of the gangs while creating a safer environment for fishermen, bawalis, mouyals and other people dependent on the forest for their livelihoods.
“Keeping the Sundarbans free from the activities of pirates and forest robbers and ensuring the safety and livelihoods of forest-dependent people are among RAB’s priorities,” he said.
“RAB-6’s operations and intelligence surveillance will continue to prevent piracy, kidnapping, ransom collection and other organised crimes in the Sundarbans,” he added.
RAB said the surrendered individuals would be handed over to the appropriate court after necessary legal procedures under existing laws.
Law enforcement agencies have conducted continuous operations in the Sundarbans alongside government rehabilitation initiatives, leading to the surrender of a significant number of members of various bandit groups over the years.
However, authorities have recently received information about the activities of new gangs and the re-involvement of some previously surrendered bandits in criminal activities. Reports of fishermen and forest workers being kidnapped and forced to pay ransom have also emerged.
Against this backdrop, RAB has strengthened intelligence surveillance and operations to ensure security in the Sundarbans and curb criminal activities.
RAB said members of several gangs had expressed interest in abandoning criminal activities and returning to normal life, citing the continued operations, difficult conditions in the forest and uncertainty associated with a life of crime.
Sundarbans to reopen
A three-month ban on tourists and forest-dependent people entering the Sundarbans was imposed from June 1 to August 31 to facilitate wildlife breeding and movement and protect biodiversity.
The forest will reopen to tourists and forest-dependent people from September 1, subject to applicable regulations and permits.
The surrender of the 52 gang members a day before the reopening is expected to contribute to the safety of forest-dependent communities, tourists and economic activities linked to the Sundarbans.
Authorities also hope that curbing organised crime in the forest will help prevent environmentally harmful activities, including illegal extraction of timber and other forest resources, wildlife hunting and trafficking.
RAB said it remains committed to ensuring the security of the Sundarbans, protecting the lives and livelihoods of forest-dependent people and conserving the country’s natural resources and biodiversity.