Fifteen alleged members of the Alif Bahini, a robber gang of the Sundarbans, have surrendered to SRB-6. The unit’s commanding officer, Lt Col Nistar Ahmed, confirmed this on Saturday.
They surrendered on Friday.
SRB forces have long conducted operations to keep the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a priceless natural asset of Bangladesh, safe and free of pirates. Thousands of people, among them fishermen, wood and leaf collectors and honey gatherers, depend directly on the forest for their living. But abduction for ransom and other crimes by pirates and forest robbers had long been a serious threat to forest workers and local people.
SRB sources said a significant number of members of various pirate gangs of the Sundarbans had surrendered in the past as a result of continuous operations by law enforcers and the government’s rehabilitation initiatives. Recently, however, information was received of new gangs becoming active and of some who had earlier surrendered returning to crime. Cases of fishermen and forest workers being abducted for ransom, and other crimes, also came to light.
Against that background SRB-6 stepped up intelligence surveillance and operations to ensure the overall security of the Sundarbans and curb the crimes of pirates and forest robbers. In the face of sustained action by SRB-6 and other law enforcement agencies, the harsh conditions of the forest and the uncertainty of a life of crime, members of various gangs expressed a resolve to give up crime and return to normal life, and an interest in surrendering.
Following from this, a total of 15 people from a section of the Alif Bahini, eight of the Abdullah group and seven of the Majid group, surrendered to SRB-6 on Friday. The force hopes their surrender will help maintain security and stability in the Sundarbans and strengthen the conditions in which fishermen, wood and leaf collectors, honey gatherers and other forest workers can earn their living safely.
SRB-6’s media cell said those who surrendered would be produced in court after the necessary legal steps were taken under the law in force.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report