Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard, after a gunfight, rescued four kidnapped fishermen from the den of a pirate gang in the Sundarbans under Sharankhola upazila early Friday.
The rescued fishermen are: M Babul Hossain Bepari, 20, son of late Abbas Ali Bepari, M Jakhir Fakir, 27, son of M Alkas Fakir, M Shah Alam Hawladr, 35, son of late Sujan Hawlader and Jafar Mia, 42, son of Mujibar Mia.
All the victims hailed from Khulna’s Koyra and Dacope upazilas.
Lieutenant Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, staff officer for operations of Mongla Coast Guard, said the coastguards started a special drive in the world’s largest mangrove forest on Wednesday following a rise in criminal activities.
As part of the drive, a team of the custodians of the coastal belt conducted a drive at Chhaprakhali near Dublar Char of the Sundarbans at around 4am on Friday, he added.
Sensing the presence of the coastguards, a gang of 10-12 pirates belonging to Sheersha Bahini opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate and triggering a gunfight.
The pirates retreated and fled into the deep forest after the half-hour gun battle.
Later, the Coast Guard members rescued the four fishermen along with a trawler from the pirates’ den.
Eight guns, two short guns, five bullets, several sharp weapons and three mobile phone sets were also recovered from the spot.
However, there were no injuries during the gunfight, and no arrests were reported in this regard.
2013 Dhaka Tribune