12 bandits surrender in Bagerhat
Twelve members of the notorious forest bandit group Nana Bhai Bahini, including its chief, have surrendered to the Coast Guard in Mongla.
They formally surrendered at the Coast Guard West Zone Headquarters in Mongla on Thursday afternoon, handing over 13 weapons and a large quantity of ammunition.
Coast Guard Media Officer (Dhaka) Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan said that 12 members, including Jahangir Morol, the head of Nana Bhai Bahini, had surrendered to the Coast Guard On Thursday.
At the time, they handed over one eight-shooter, one six-shooter, one four-shooter, one side-hammer pistol, one bolt-action pistol, two M3 gas guns, two 7.65mm pistols, two one-shooters, two air guns, 212 rounds of fresh cartridges, 29 rounds of blank cartridges, 20 rounds of 7.65mm pistol bullets.
five rounds of 8mm fresh bullets, 413 rounds of air-gun pellets, four pistol magazines, two air-gun magazines and chargers, and six walkie-talkies.
The Coast Guard official said, “We urge all active pirates in the Sundarbans to surrender to the Coast Guard and return to normal life. Those who surrender will be given the opportunity to be rehabilitated by the higher authorities. On the other hand, strict legal action will be taken against those who continue their criminal activities in line with the government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy.”
He further said, “We are hopeful that, through the government’s instructions, your cooperation and the coordinated efforts of other law enforcement agencies, it will be possible to completely free the Sundarbans from pirates.”
The surrendered bandits Jahangir Morol alias Rahmat (36), Saifullah Morol (39), Ekhlasur Rahman (38), Rabiul Islam (35), Mofizul Islam (35), Azim Uddin Gazi (37) and Abdur Rahman Sheikh (36)-are residents of Paikgachha and Dumuria police stations in Khulna district.
Shafiqul Islam (53), Mintu Gazi (39), Azizul Gazi (35) and Shahjahan Mali (35) are residents of Shyamnagar police station in Satkhira district, while Azizur Rahman (45) is a resident of Rampal police station in Bagerhat district.
As members of Nana Bhai Bahini, they had allegedly been robbing fishermen and farmers in the Sundarbans for a long time and extorting ransom.
Earlier, a total of 37 members of the forest-based Chhota Suman Bahini, Bara Jahangir Bahini and Chhota Jahangir Bahini surrendered to the Coast Guard.
