10 Fishing Trawlers Looted
Robbers kidnap 15 for ransom in Bagerhat
Robbers kidnapped 15 fishermen and looted valuables worth Tk 2 lakh from 10 trawlers in the Shela River of the East Sundarbans under Sharankhola upazila on Friday evening.
Two of the kidnapped fishermen were identified as Monir Hossain and Nazir Farazi of Uttar Rajapur village in the upazila. The identities of the others could not be known yet.
The fishermen who escaped the robbery said a gang of 10/12 belonging to “Shirsha Bahini” swooped on the trawlers while they were catching fish in the river.
Later, the robbers looted the valuables and abducted the fishermen for ransom. At least six fishermen were also injured as the robbers attacked them.
Fishermen said they are now afraid to go the deep sea for fishing as the number of robberies is on a rapid rise. They demanded the government ensure their security.
The fishermen and the trawler owners told the news agency that the gang, while leaving the area after robbery, demanded Tk 50,000 for releasing each of the kidnapped fishermen.
They also threatened to kill the victims if their demand is not met within one week, the fishermen said.
Contacted, KM Mamunur Rashid, staff officer (operation) of Bangladesh Coast Guard Mongla West Zone, said they were conducting drives in the Sundarbans to arrest the robbers.
Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, police superintendent of Bagerhat, said he has already ordered the police station concerned to collect necessary information about the incident.
Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarbans (East Zone) Mihir Kumar Doe told the news agency that the forest guards were carrying out continuous operations to nab the forest robbers.
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