Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
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 Coast Guard started operation for rescuing the abducted fishermen in the mean time.
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.
Lt. Abdullah Al Mahmud Hossain, Operation officer of Mongla West Zone Coastguard said, after hearing the news of the abduction of the fishermen, two teams of the Coastguard already started operations with a view to rescue the abducted fishermen.
It is 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 (Monday) 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. On the eve of their departure, the forest robber gang gave a cell phone number (01760213614) and asked to contact them after collecting the ransom according to their demand, if they fail to meet up their demand, they abducted fishermen would be killed, pirates threatened.
Names of seven abducted persons were learnt. They are- Ali Hossain Munshi, son of Shajahan Munshi, hailed from village Sonatala in Swarankhola upazila, Lal Mia Gazi, son of Somed Gazi of village North Rajapur, Ziarul Molla, son of Ishaq Molla of village Panirghat, Shahidul Islam, son of Nanna Matubbar of Sonatala, Delwar Hossain, son of Jalal Molla of village Khuriakhali and Masud Mia, son of Mosharaf Hossain of village Tafalbari in the same upazila.
Md.Abdul Jalil, officer-in-charge(OC) of Swarankhola police station said that the matter of abduction is beyond his knowledge and nobody made any complain in this regard, of course, proper step will be taken after observing the matter, he added.
During that period Lt. Commander Md. Fariduzzaman, operation commander of Coastguard’s Mongla Zone had said that operation by the members of the coastguard was started from Monday morning after being informed the matter of abduction of the fishermen and efforts for rescuing the abducted fishermen have been going on, he added. Besides, five special teams of coastguard are still conducting operations inn the Sundarbans area, Lt. Fariduzzaman further said.
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 Coast Guard started operation for rescuing the abducted fishermen in the mean time.
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.
Lt. Abdullah Al Mahmud Hossain, Operation officer of Mongla West Zone Coastguard said, after hearing the news of the abduction of the fishermen, two teams of the Coastguard already started operations with a view to rescue the abducted fishermen.
It is 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 (Monday) 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. On the eve of their departure, the forest robber gang gave a cell phone number (01760213614) and asked to contact them after collecting the ransom according to their demand, if they fail to meet up their demand, they abducted fishermen would be killed, pirates threatened.
Names of seven abducted persons were learnt. They are- Ali Hossain Munshi, son of Shajahan Munshi, hailed from village Sonatala in Swarankhola upazila, Lal Mia Gazi, son of Somed Gazi of village North Rajapur, Ziarul Molla, son of Ishaq Molla of village Panirghat, Shahidul Islam, son of Nanna Matubbar of Sonatala, Delwar Hossain, son of Jalal Molla of village Khuriakhali and Masud Mia, son of Mosharaf Hossain of village Tafalbari in the same upazila.
Md.Abdul Jalil, officer-in-charge(OC) of Swarankhola police station said that the matter of abduction is beyond his knowledge and nobody made any complain in this regard, of course, proper step will be taken after observing the matter, he added.
During that period Lt. Commander Md. Fariduzzaman, operation commander of Coastguard’s Mongla Zone had said that operation by the members of the coastguard was started from Monday morning after being informed the matter of abduction of the fishermen and efforts for rescuing the abducted fishermen have been going on, he added. Besides, five special teams of coastguard are still conducting operations inn the Sundarbans area, Lt. Fariduzzaman further said.
