6 more fishermen kidnapped from eastern Sundarbans

Six more fishermen were kidnapped at gunpoint by bandits of the Jahangir Bahini from the Chaprakhali area under the Sharankhola Forest Range of the Eastern Sundarbans in Bagerhat district on Wednesday night, reportedly to extort ransom, according to a report received here.

The kidnapped fishermen are Hafizul (24) and Faizur (20), two brothers from Uttar Rajapur village under Sharankhola Upazila in Bagerhat district; Bellal Mir (35) and Saleman (40) from Patharghata Upazila in Barguna district; Hasib (21) of Padma village under the same upazila; and one unidentified person from the area.

Earlier, on Tuesday midnight, around 12 fishermen were also kidnapped from the Fusfusiarchar area under the Sharankhola Forest Range by the same bandit group, Jahangir Bahini. The kidnapped fishermen are reportedly being held in the deep forest to extract ransom.

It has been learned from Forest Department sources that members of the smart patrolling team and forest guards are conducting raids to rescue the abducted fishermen.

Forester Sheikh Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the Shelarchar patrol outpost, confirmed the incident on Thursday afternoon over the mobile phone.

Md. Shaminul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Sharankhola Police Station, said he was not aware of the kidnapping of six fishermen and added that legal action would be taken if a complaint is filed.