Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
Some 23 fishermen were abducted by a forest robbers on Saturday from deep sea of the Bay from Bangabandhur Char near at Dublarchar area adjacent to the Sundarbans. Kamal Uddin, General Secretary of Dublarchar Fishermen Group told journalists.
Kamal said, some fishermen went for fishing in the Bay on Saturda and all on a sudden, a forest robber gang named “Baro Bhai Bahini” swooped on them, beat them mercilessly and abducted at least 23 fishermen on demand of ransom of Tk 2 lakh per head and thereafter they went away by looting fishing trawlers.
Among the 23 persons, 17 are the inhabitants of Chakla area in Koyra Upazila of Khulna district and the rest 6 are from different areas of Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district. The details and identification of the abducted persons could not be ascertained immediately.
It is mentionable in this connection that on November 6, 2017 at least 10 fishermen were abducted from Dhanghara canal area of Kalagachhia river in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans.
During that period, one of the fishermen who managed to escape from the spot had said, on Monday morning, some fishermen went for fishing in Dhanghara canal of the river Kalagachhia in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans. Suddenlys, a forest robber gang named “Jonab Bahini” had swooped on them, beat them ruthlessly and abducted at least 10 fishermen on demand o ransom.
The fishermen who managed to flee from the spot of abduction told the matter to the journalists on Monday evening.
The abducted persons are- Abdul Karim, son of Abdus Gafur, Tonmoy Mollick, son of Goyeswar Mollick, Imrul Gazi, son of Afsar Gazi, Selim Gazi, son of Foni Gazi, Dalim Gazi, son of Halim Gazi, Monirul Islam, son of late Noor Ali Gazi, Abdus Samad Gazi, son of Abdul Khalek Gazi, Abdur Rahman, son of Surat Ali, Mujibar Gazi, son of Sakat Gazi and Rahman Gazi, son of Zindar Gazi. Belal Hossain, Burigoalini Forest station Officer said, We have heard the news of fishermen abduction. However, nobody has given allegation in this regard, he added. It is mention in this connection that on September 20 & 21, 2017, at least 25 fishermen were abducted by two forest robber gangs in two days (Tuesday & Wednesday) from two different places of the East Sundarbans. Members of coastguard had conducted operation for rescuing the abducted fishermen during that period.
Some fishermen who managed to escape from the spot said, on Tuesday dawn some fishermen went for fishing at Nolbunia Horintana area in Swaronkhola upazila. All on sudden, a forest robber gang named Baro Bhai Bahini swooped on them, beat them mercilessly, looted taka and rice and abducted at least 20 fishermen on demand of ransom. Reidents of the abducted fishermen are at Rosulpur village in the Upazila, said a fishermen. However, the injured fishermen took treatment from Upazila Health Complex.
On the other hand, on Wednesday morning, some fishermen went for fishing at Tambulbunia area in Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans. Suddenly, another forest robber gang named Sumon Bahini attacked the fishermen, demanded extortion and abducted 5 fishermen. Residents of the abducted fishermen are at Sonatala village of the Upazila. said a fish trader.
It is also mentionable in this connection that earlier, from August11 to 15 ( In 5 days) at least 30 fishermen were abducted by an unidentified forest robber gang from the same area while only four fishermen could be rescued.
Besides, at least 10 fishermen were abducted from the west Sundarbans on August 7,2017 in Swarankhola upazila area of Bagerhat district by an unidentified armed forest robber on demand of ransom. The pirate gang also gave a cell phone number to other fishermen and asked to meet up their demanded ransom, otherwise they would be killed, the bandits threatened. For this reason the people who are dependable upon the Sundarbans, are in great anxieties and fear of death, sources said.
Some returned fishermen and victimized persons said, some fishermen went for fishing at dead night on Sunday at Horintana and Kalamula rivers in the west Sundarbans. They were busy in fishing. All on a sudden, an unidentified forest robber gang along with sharp weapons swooped on them and beat them mercilessly. Thereafter, on demand of ransom, the pirate gang abducted 10 fishermen from 10 boats.
It is mentionable in this connection that ten fishermen were again abducted by forest robbers from the Sundarbans by a forest robber gang named Robiul Bahini from the river Mathabhanga, goalkhali area in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district.
Some 23 fishermen were abducted by a forest robbers on Saturday from deep sea of the Bay from Bangabandhur Char near at Dublarchar area adjacent to the Sundarbans. Kamal Uddin, General Secretary of Dublarchar Fishermen Group told journalists.
Kamal said, some fishermen went for fishing in the Bay on Saturda and all on a sudden, a forest robber gang named “Baro Bhai Bahini” swooped on them, beat them mercilessly and abducted at least 23 fishermen on demand of ransom of Tk 2 lakh per head and thereafter they went away by looting fishing trawlers.
Among the 23 persons, 17 are the inhabitants of Chakla area in Koyra Upazila of Khulna district and the rest 6 are from different areas of Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district. The details and identification of the abducted persons could not be ascertained immediately.
It is mentionable in this connection that on November 6, 2017 at least 10 fishermen were abducted from Dhanghara canal area of Kalagachhia river in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans.
During that period, one of the fishermen who managed to escape from the spot had said, on Monday morning, some fishermen went for fishing in Dhanghara canal of the river Kalagachhia in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans. Suddenlys, a forest robber gang named “Jonab Bahini” had swooped on them, beat them ruthlessly and abducted at least 10 fishermen on demand o ransom.
The fishermen who managed to flee from the spot of abduction told the matter to the journalists on Monday evening.
The abducted persons are- Abdul Karim, son of Abdus Gafur, Tonmoy Mollick, son of Goyeswar Mollick, Imrul Gazi, son of Afsar Gazi, Selim Gazi, son of Foni Gazi, Dalim Gazi, son of Halim Gazi, Monirul Islam, son of late Noor Ali Gazi, Abdus Samad Gazi, son of Abdul Khalek Gazi, Abdur Rahman, son of Surat Ali, Mujibar Gazi, son of Sakat Gazi and Rahman Gazi, son of Zindar Gazi. Belal Hossain, Burigoalini Forest station Officer said, We have heard the news of fishermen abduction. However, nobody has given allegation in this regard, he added. It is mention in this connection that on September 20 & 21, 2017, at least 25 fishermen were abducted by two forest robber gangs in two days (Tuesday & Wednesday) from two different places of the East Sundarbans. Members of coastguard had conducted operation for rescuing the abducted fishermen during that period.
Some fishermen who managed to escape from the spot said, on Tuesday dawn some fishermen went for fishing at Nolbunia Horintana area in Swaronkhola upazila. All on sudden, a forest robber gang named Baro Bhai Bahini swooped on them, beat them mercilessly, looted taka and rice and abducted at least 20 fishermen on demand of ransom. Reidents of the abducted fishermen are at Rosulpur village in the Upazila, said a fishermen. However, the injured fishermen took treatment from Upazila Health Complex.
On the other hand, on Wednesday morning, some fishermen went for fishing at Tambulbunia area in Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans. Suddenly, another forest robber gang named Sumon Bahini attacked the fishermen, demanded extortion and abducted 5 fishermen. Residents of the abducted fishermen are at Sonatala village of the Upazila. said a fish trader.
It is also mentionable in this connection that earlier, from August11 to 15 ( In 5 days) at least 30 fishermen were abducted by an unidentified forest robber gang from the same area while only four fishermen could be rescued.
Besides, at least 10 fishermen were abducted from the west Sundarbans on August 7,2017 in Swarankhola upazila area of Bagerhat district by an unidentified armed forest robber on demand of ransom. The pirate gang also gave a cell phone number to other fishermen and asked to meet up their demanded ransom, otherwise they would be killed, the bandits threatened. For this reason the people who are dependable upon the Sundarbans, are in great anxieties and fear of death, sources said.
Some returned fishermen and victimized persons said, some fishermen went for fishing at dead night on Sunday at Horintana and Kalamula rivers in the west Sundarbans. They were busy in fishing. All on a sudden, an unidentified forest robber gang along with sharp weapons swooped on them and beat them mercilessly. Thereafter, on demand of ransom, the pirate gang abducted 10 fishermen from 10 boats.
It is mentionable in this connection that ten fishermen were again abducted by forest robbers from the Sundarbans by a forest robber gang named Robiul Bahini from the river Mathabhanga, goalkhali area in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district.
