Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
The members of pirate and robber gangs in the Sundarbans have started surrendering to lead a normal life following the ongoing massive raids by the law enforcing agencies.
At least 80 members of the eight active gangs out of 13 have already submitted their arms after taking the chance of repeated announcement from the government to surrender without facing further legal actions, cops and forest officials said.
They claimed that the Sundarbans would be freed from pirates soon if the surrender process of different pirate gangs continued in the present manner.
The authorities concerned also said that the robbers have started returning to normal life following the law enforcers’ zero tolerance policy against them to root out from the Sundarbans.
Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, “If forest robbers continued their criminal activities in the mangrove forest, the law enforcement agencies would take stern action against them.”
The minister made the remarks while addressing a programme arranged on the occasion of surrender of 12 members of a gang of forest robbers “Khaka Bahini and its chief with 22 fire arms and more than 1,000 rounds of bullet in Barisal on Monday.
The government is fighting against the pirates to free the Sundarbans and will also bring them to book who support the robbers, the minister said.
He asked the pirate and robber gangs to come back in normal life and take the opportunity of the pledges of the government to ensure their jobs security and other facilities.
“Forest robbers as well as criminals have been identified as harmful people in the society. They have started surrendering after realizing this perception. The gang members realized that they were wrong, so they want to return to normal life,” said Asaduzzaman Khan.
The minister said, “The government would provide legal support to those willing to quit criminal activities and lead a normal life.”
RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed said, “Joint forces of the law enforcing agencies are working to root out the robbers’ activities in the Sundarbans. The robbers may surrender to save their lives.”
In this contest, 12 robbers of the ‘Khokababu Bahini’ led by Md Kabirul Islam alias Khokababu surrendered their weapons to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at the RAB-8 Headquarters in Barisal city on Monday, said RAB-8 Deputy Director Adnan Kabir.
The robbers surrendered with 22 fire arms and 1,003 rounds of ammunition, he said.
The surrenders robbers are Kabirul Islam alias Khokababu, 33, Aminur Islam, 32, Shajahan Gazi, 30, Abdul Azia, 44, Mizanur Rahman, 36, Rabiul Islam, 25, Osman Gani, 33, Rafiqul Gazi, 33, Yasin Ali Gazi, 25, Mahidulm Islam, 33, Mujibur Rahaman, 38, and Abul Kalam, 35.
RAB-8 Commanding Officer (CO) Lt Col Iftekharul Mabud said, all the surrendered robbers were sent to jail following a court order.
In a query, he confessed and said that the surrendered robbers face action in their earlier cases.
The government did not ensure the jobs and other facilities to members of the gangs so far after surrender in different periods, he said.
On October 21, at least 13 robbers including their ring leader surrendered with 20 foreign rifles and a huge cache of ammunition at Barguna Circuit House.
At least 14 members of two infamous robber gangs — Santo Bahini and Alam Bahini – surrendered with 20 firearms and 1,008 rounds of bullets in Bagerhat on September 8.
Also 11 members of two Sundarbans robber gangs — ‘Majnu Bahini’ and ‘Elias Bahini’ — surrender their firearms to Home Minister at BFDC jetty in Mongla of Bagerhat in July 15.
Earlier on June 1, ten members of an infamous gang of forest robbers surrendered with 52 firearms and 5,000 rounds of bullet in Mongla.
On 27 May, about 10 members of “Master Bahini”, in the Sundarbans, surrendered with over a number of arms, including shot-guns, double-barrel guns, 303 rifles and a large quantity of bullets.
The members of pirate and robber gangs in the Sundarbans have started surrendering to lead a normal life following the ongoing massive raids by the law enforcing agencies.
At least 80 members of the eight active gangs out of 13 have already submitted their arms after taking the chance of repeated announcement from the government to surrender without facing further legal actions, cops and forest officials said.
They claimed that the Sundarbans would be freed from pirates soon if the surrender process of different pirate gangs continued in the present manner.
The authorities concerned also said that the robbers have started returning to normal life following the law enforcers’ zero tolerance policy against them to root out from the Sundarbans.
Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, “If forest robbers continued their criminal activities in the mangrove forest, the law enforcement agencies would take stern action against them.”
The minister made the remarks while addressing a programme arranged on the occasion of surrender of 12 members of a gang of forest robbers “Khaka Bahini and its chief with 22 fire arms and more than 1,000 rounds of bullet in Barisal on Monday.
The government is fighting against the pirates to free the Sundarbans and will also bring them to book who support the robbers, the minister said.
He asked the pirate and robber gangs to come back in normal life and take the opportunity of the pledges of the government to ensure their jobs security and other facilities.
“Forest robbers as well as criminals have been identified as harmful people in the society. They have started surrendering after realizing this perception. The gang members realized that they were wrong, so they want to return to normal life,” said Asaduzzaman Khan.
The minister said, “The government would provide legal support to those willing to quit criminal activities and lead a normal life.”
RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed said, “Joint forces of the law enforcing agencies are working to root out the robbers’ activities in the Sundarbans. The robbers may surrender to save their lives.”
In this contest, 12 robbers of the ‘Khokababu Bahini’ led by Md Kabirul Islam alias Khokababu surrendered their weapons to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at the RAB-8 Headquarters in Barisal city on Monday, said RAB-8 Deputy Director Adnan Kabir.
The robbers surrendered with 22 fire arms and 1,003 rounds of ammunition, he said.
The surrenders robbers are Kabirul Islam alias Khokababu, 33, Aminur Islam, 32, Shajahan Gazi, 30, Abdul Azia, 44, Mizanur Rahman, 36, Rabiul Islam, 25, Osman Gani, 33, Rafiqul Gazi, 33, Yasin Ali Gazi, 25, Mahidulm Islam, 33, Mujibur Rahaman, 38, and Abul Kalam, 35.
RAB-8 Commanding Officer (CO) Lt Col Iftekharul Mabud said, all the surrendered robbers were sent to jail following a court order.
In a query, he confessed and said that the surrendered robbers face action in their earlier cases.
The government did not ensure the jobs and other facilities to members of the gangs so far after surrender in different periods, he said.
On October 21, at least 13 robbers including their ring leader surrendered with 20 foreign rifles and a huge cache of ammunition at Barguna Circuit House.
At least 14 members of two infamous robber gangs — Santo Bahini and Alam Bahini – surrendered with 20 firearms and 1,008 rounds of bullets in Bagerhat on September 8.
Also 11 members of two Sundarbans robber gangs — ‘Majnu Bahini’ and ‘Elias Bahini’ — surrender their firearms to Home Minister at BFDC jetty in Mongla of Bagerhat in July 15.
Earlier on June 1, ten members of an infamous gang of forest robbers surrendered with 52 firearms and 5,000 rounds of bullet in Mongla.
On 27 May, about 10 members of “Master Bahini”, in the Sundarbans, surrendered with over a number of arms, including shot-guns, double-barrel guns, 303 rifles and a large quantity of bullets.
