Bagerhat Correspondent :
Sundarbans forest was declared free from the jungle pirates on November 01 in the year 2018. But the jungle pirates raised their heads once again. At present some 20 gangs of jungle pirates are active. They are now realizing lakhs of Taka after kidnapping the fishermen as ransom from their family members.
As a result, a great panic was created among the fishermen fishing in Sundarbans and other forest-earners. After the declaration that Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest of the world and a world heritage fishermen, Bawalis and other forest-earners were undisturbed and free from anxieties for long six years. But after August 05, 2024 the situation began to be deteriorated gradually from bad to worse.
It is learnt from the forest department, law enforcing agencies, fishermen and fish traders that the jungle bandits/pirates are now well organized under the new leaderships and they are committing different crimes in Sundarbans, mainly in the Eastern Division (under Bagerhat district). Out of them Jahangir Bahini, Manjur Bahini and Dada Bhai Bahini are equipped with modern arms and weapons and huge man power.
These 3 jungle pirates are very powerful. Besides these 3 gangs of jungle pirates, there are some other gangs of jungle pirates like Karim Sharif Bahini, Asabur Bahini, Dayal Bahini, Rabi Bahini, Ranga Bahini, Suman Bahini, Dula Bhai Bahini, Anarul Bahini, Hannan Bahini, Ranga Bahini and Alif Bahini. Each gang of jungle pirates consists of 20 to 40 members. They put up temporary camps in the deep forest, kidnapping the fishermen and realizing ransom from their family members. It was revealed that more than 300 fishermen were kidnapped and tortured in those temporary shelters in order to realize ransom during the last one year alone. It is learnt that the jungle pirates are very active at Mara Bhola, Alibanda, Dhanchebaria, Dudmukhi, Shyela, Narkelbaria, Teearchar, Pashur, Andharmanik, Shibsha and other places within Sharankhola and Chandpai Forest Ranges under the Eastern Sundarbans in Bagerhat district.
Dr. Shaikh Faridul Islam, Chairman of the Environmentalist’s Association and Nur-e-Alam Shaikh, Chief Co-coordinator of the organization “Sundarban Rakkhay Amra” told, Godfathers of those gangs of jungle pirates control them through their trusted sources after living in the human habitations. They added, until and unless the jungle pirates and their godfathers cannot be subdued the biodiversity of Sundrbans will be destroyed forever and consequently, the life and livelihood will be thrown into utter distress. In this connection they urged upon the law enforcing agencies to adopt zero tolerance.
Lt. Commander Abrar Hossain, Staff Officer of the Coast Guards, Western Zone deployed Mongla (Port) told, members of the coast guards are conducting normal patrol duties in and around Sundarbas in order to subdue the jungle pirates. Besides this, very often special raids are being conducted with a view to free the Sundarbans from jungle bandits/pirates.
