Fishing suspended in Sundarbans over jungle pirate threat
Bagerhat Correspondent :
Fishing in the rivers and canals of Sundarbans and its adjacent Bay of Bengal was suspended for fear of the jungle pirates since Tuesday evening, according to a delayed report received here.
As a result, about 15 thousand fishermen of Dubla, the biggest fish drying village (consists a number small islands) in the country situated in the Bay of Bengal, adjacent to the Eastern Division of Sundarbans forest under Bagerhat district are now in great predicament. They are now passing idle life at the fish drying village.
Md. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, a valiant freedom fighter and president of Dubla Fishermen Group disclosed the matter over mobile phone on Wednesday (February 18) from Alorkol of Dubla and told some 4 gangs of jungle pirates such as Jahangir Bahini, Suman Bahini, Sharif Bahini and Karim Bahini.
They are roaming in Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal with terrible. For their movement the fishermen have feared to catch fish in the sea and Sundarbans. Three days ago the jungle pirates kidnapped 20 fishermen from Narkelbaria and Ambaria islands from their creeks in order to realize handsome amount of cash Taka as ransom.
For fear of kidnapping by the jungle pirates some 15 thousand fishermen of Dubla fish drying village are refrained from fishing in the Bay and the rivers and canals of Sundarbans since Tuesday (February 17) evening.
They are now passing their days idle at the Dubla fish drying village. The fish drying season at Dubla will be ended within a few weeks. At the end of the fish drying season the fishermen did not face such a problem previously. The fishermen borrow money from the money lenders for fish drying business and after the end of the season they refund the money.
But at present the fishermen are apprehending that they will not able to refund the money as they cannot catch fish for fear of the jungle pirates.
Freedom fighter Kamal Uddin Ahmed disclosed, after kidnapping the fishermen they bandits release those fishermen who can pay the ransom and those who fail to pay the ransom are to face inhuman physical torture. In the last week some 4 fishermen who were seriously beaten by the jungle pirates were admitted to Rampal Upazila Health Complex for their treatment.
As the activities of the law-enforcing agencies are not visible the jungle pirates have become reckless and desperate. In the year 2018 after the unconditional surrender of the jungle pirates to the elite force RAB the government declared the Sundarbans as free from the jungle pirates.
Since then the fishermen used to catch fish in the Bay of Bengal and Sundarbans till the August, 2024 without any obstacle or fear. But at present the jungle pirates raised their heads once again. Motasim Faraji, president of Rampal Fishermen’s Association at Alorkol fish-drying village told, a good number of fishermen were abducted by the jungle pirates during the last fortnight and more than one hundred fishermen are within the grieves of the jungle pirates.
At the night of last Monday (February 16) jungle pirates kidnapped as many as 20 fishermen in order to realize cash Taka as ransom and at that time they gave a mobile number for Bkash. Ranger Milton Roy, Officer-in-charge of Dubla fish-drying village Patrol Outpost told, fishermen are refrained from catching fish in the sea and rivers and canals of Sundrbans for fear of the jungle pirates.
The officer is apprehending that this may affect the collection of the revenue target fixed by the forest department from this sector. He further added, the fishermen are not procuring pass and permits from the forest department for catching fish for fear of jungle pirates.
A good number of grocery shop-keepers of Rayenda Bazar, adjacent to Sundarbans told, their sale proceed has fallen short abnormally as the fishermen are not going to the Sundarbans and its adjacent Bay of Bengal for fishing.
Md. Shariful Islam (ACF), Forest Ranger of Sharankhola told, the matter was brought to the notice of the higher authorities and the patrol duties of the forest guards was strengthened to cope with the situation. The Ranger added the help of the coast guards and the RAB was sought for the safety of the fishermen.
