According to local sources, at least 23 gang of robbers, including five gangs which leaders have already surrendered to law-enforcers with 97 firearms and 7,028 bullets in last four months, are involved in criminal activities in the forest area.
Currently, over 120 forest dacoits of 20 gangs are active in the area and they are committing several crimes under the nose of administration, said Debobrot Mandol, leader of fisherman community and a trader in Koira area.
The armed robbers mainly target honey collectors. They loot all their collections and steal their boats as well as torture them. The pirates also fell trees for timber and steal wood. Last month, 12 fishermen were kidnapped from the Sundarbans. Later, three were released after their families paid Tk1 lakh each.
Yesterday, members of the elite force also rescued 16 fishermen from the captivity of forest robbers and arrested a robber in possession of three firearms and ammunition at Dacope upzila.
Police Super Md Enayet Hossain Mannan told the Dhaka Tribune that they had conducted a drive in Monsa area around 5pm after being tipped-off.
But Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the forest robbers opened fire on them that forced RAB personnel to take retaliation ensuing a gun fight. At last, the robbers fled the scene.
Later, RAB members found 16 fishermen who had been kidnapped earlier and arrested Md Shahjahan Molla, a resident of Dacope upzila, in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Earlier, the robbers kidnapped seven fishermen from Joymonir area in the Passur River in the Sundarbans.
The victims hail from different villages in Mongla and Rampal upazilas.
A gang of robbers of notorious 'Sumon Bahini' attacked the fishermen on seven trawlers while they were fishing in the river, said an official of Coastguard (west zone).
They abducted the seven and demanded Tk10,000 as ransom for the release of each fisherman.
The fishermen have to give a rich amount of money to the pirates while they go to catch fish and crabs in the sea. After giving extortion they have no condition to run the family with the poor amount of money.
Koira Fishermen Traders' Union President and UP Chairman Sarder Lutfar Rahman said: “The pirates in Sundarbans area are now out of control. They are committing heinous crimes like robbery, murder and kidnapping continuously.”
“Many fishermen have decided to leave their ancestral profession as they have to face continuous threats by the pirates,” he added.
Fishermen and traders in the area said though members of law-enforcers conducted drives in the area several times and five gang leaders including their associates surrendered to them in last few months.
But recently more 20 gangs have become active. Of them, five gangs led by Jahangir, Jonab, Noa, Sagor and Alif have become ferocious challenging the law enforcers, they added.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB 8) Deputy Commander Major Adnan said the five gangs were serious threat to the fishermen now in the area.
Members of law enforcers were conducting special drives continuously to arrest the pirates, he added.
Locals said in last two months more than 150 fishermen had been kidnapped by the pirates. Of them eight fishermen were released after their families paid Tk2 lakh each.
Shamsher Ali, officer-in-charge of Koira police station, said the people in the area had been asked to inform the members of law-enforcers about the pirates.
Major Adnan Kabir, deputy commander of RAB-8, said they had a great plan to uproot the pitates în Sundarbans. For this they were working with the help of Coastguard.
