Prof ABM Mosharraf Husain, Bagerhat :Hilsa catching season has already started in the Bay of Bengal and in the rivers and canals of Sundarban forest just with the beginning of the Bengali month Joystha. With the beginning of Hilsa season jungle pirates are also very active in both the Bay of Bengal and in Sundarbans . Rampant and unabated collection of money from the fishermen by the jungle pirates made about 1.5 lakh fishermen of the costal areas of the region hostage in the hands of the jungle pirates. As a result, the sufferings of the fishermen know no bounds. On the one hand, fishermen cannot catch hilsa for its dearth in the Bay of Bengal and they are not allowed to catch hilsa from the Bay and Sundarban forest until the jungle pirates are paid the illegal taxation properly. It is mentionable here that during the last one fortnight more that one hundred fishermen were kidnapped by the jungle pirates from the Bay and Sundarban forest on the change of not paying the jungle pirates the illegal taxation imposed by them (jungle pirates). Some of them were released after the payment of cash Taka as ransom. Many of them are still captives in the hands of the jungle pirates for failing to pay the demanded ransom. So, the fishermen are to catch hilsa from the Bay and Sundarban facing a lot of hazards.Jungle pirates attack those fishing trawlers which did not pay the taxation demanded by the pirates. It is complained by many fishermen who returned to some fish depots of the coastal areas from the captivity of the jungle pirates that kidnapping of fishermen and the realization of illegal taxation from the fishermen by the jungle pirates are done due to lack of full time vigilance of the different law enforcing authorities in the Bay and in Sundarban forest.At least 41 jungle pirates were killed in the gun battles took place between the jungle pirates and the law enforcing authorities including the elite force RAB during the last one year. But in spite of that the jungle pirates are active and new gangs of jungle pirates are being formed in new names.On May 30 in the evening some 7 fishermen were kidnapped by the jungle pirates belonging to Khoka Babu Bahini from Kateswar canal area under Satkhira forest range in the Western Division of Sundarban forest for realizing ransom. All the kidnapped fishermen hail from Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira district. They were not released till the writing of this report. On My 23, some 50 fishermen were kidnapped from Harbaria area of Pashur channel under Chandpai forest range in the Eastern Division of Sundarban forest by Awal Bahini alias Choto Bahini for realizing ransom. On May 26, some 8 fishermen were kidnapped from Tambulbunia area within Dhansagar forest station office in the Eastern Division of Sundarban forest by the members of Awal Bahini alias Choto Bahini and Harun Bahini for realizing a sum of Tk.8 lakh as ransom.It is learnt from the fishermen, owners of fishing trawlers and the owners of fish depots that Murtza Bahin and some other gangs of jungle pirates of the coastal areas already declared, each fishing trawler and each fishing boat will have to pays a sum of Tk.70 thousand to Tk.90 thousand as illegal taxation for catching hilsa from the Bay of Bengal and Sundarban forest. Crews of fishing trawlers Fruk, Chan Mia, Lal Mia and Nur Mia hail from Chila and Joymoni areas under Mongla Upazila in the district disclosed, if the money of the illegal taxation demanded by he jungle pirates is not paid in time they (jungle pirates) attack those trawlers and mechanized fishing boats, loot fish and their valuables, kidnap the fishing trawlers and fishermen and took them into the deep forest as captive for realizing a handsome amount of cash Taka as ransom from them. They also add, the owners of the fishing trawlers get no effective result from the law enforcing authorities excepting one or two cases after informing them (law enforcers) of the matter.A good number of fishermen disclosed, if the crews and fishermen of fishing trawlers and mechanized fishing boats fail to pay the jungle pirates the ransom in time they pirates kill the kidnapped fishermen and throw the dead bodies in the jungle or in the sea. Considering the fact the crews and fishermen of the fishing trawlers are forced to pay the jungle pirates the illegal taxation and procure tokens from them (jungle pirates) for catching fish in the Bay and Sundarban forest.In this connection Lt. Commander Alauddin, Operation Officer of the Coastguards of the Western Zone told the newsmen, the operation that has already been started by the Coast Guards will continue in the forest and in the coastal areas in order to subdue the jungle pirates. He added, the members of the coastguards rescued 11 fishermen who were kidnapped by the jungle pirates for realizing ransom form Baikhali of Sundarban forest on Tuesday.
