27 Sundarbans bandits surrender to Coast Guard

Twenty-seven active bandits, including Jahangir Sheikh, the leader of the notorious Choto Jahangir Bahini, surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the Sundarbans on Monday (13 July).

The incident took place recently (13 July) in the Charputia Canal area of the Sundarbans under Mongla Upazila in Bagerhat district.

Those who surrendered include Jahangir Sheikh (45), Mozahid Gazi (25), Zahed Hasan (28), Suman Dhali (30), Ershad Sheikh (42), Wahiduzzaman (30), Ayub Sheikh (43), Rafsan Dhali (30), Parvez Sheikh (27), Kamal Shikdar (25), Zahid Gazi (38), Sirajul Tarafdar (36), Aminul Sheikh (43), Asadul Islam (38), Babul Sheikh (45), Shehjar Sheikh (42), and Helel M. (38), among others.

They also handed over a large cache of firearms and ammunition in their possession.

Confirming the matter to The New Nation, Lt. Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Media Cell said that for a long time, bandit groups have terrorised fishermen, honey collectors, and other forest-dependent people in the Sundarbans.

“They have been accused of kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and holding forest dwellers hostage at gunpoint for years.”

Sujan said that the government has been conducting Operation Restore Peace in the Sundarbans and Operation Mangrove Shield for a long time to ensure security in the coastal region and free the Sundarbans from bandit activities.

“A large quantity of arms and ammunition has already been recovered during these operations. In addition, 45 bandits have been arrested, while 42 fishermen and boatmen held hostage by the bandits have been rescued alive, provided with medical treatment, and reunited with their families.”