Robbers loot 102 trawlers, abduct 137 fishermen in a month
Robbers looted at least 102 fishing trawlers and abducted 137 fishermen from sea along the district's coastal areas in 30 days from May 12.
The gangs took away fishing nets, fishes and other goods worth about Tk 22 lakh from the trawlers, leaving at least 34 fishermen injured.
The 'forest robbers' swooped on different trawlers during the period from May 12 to June 12 in the coastal areas of the district, in the Sundarbans, Boleswar, Hormal canal, the Shela River under Sharankhola upazila, the Buoy area in Mongla upazila and the Padmabati canal area in Dakope upazila of Khulna district.
The abducted fishermen hailed from Bagerhat, Barguna and Khulna districts.
On June 12, Sundarbans robbers attacked 10 trawlers in the Boleswar River, looted nets and fishes worth Tk 4 lakh and also kidnapped 27 fishermen from one trawler while on the previous day, the members of the infamous 'Murtaza Bahini' took away nets and fishes worth Tk 5 lakh from 20 trawlers and kidnapped 40 fishermen from two trawlers for ransom in the Padmabati canal.
On June 8, the members of the infamous 'Shirsha Bahini', in the Shela River of East Sundarbans, looted nets and fishes worth Tk 2 lakh from 10 trawlers and also kidnapped 15 fishermen for ransom.
On June 2, the members of the notorious 'Rezaul Bahini' in the Sundarbans looted nets and fishes worth Tk one lakh and kidnapped 5 fishermen while on May 12 'Raza Bahini' members looted nets and fishes worth Tk 10 lakh and also kidnapped 50 fishermen in the Hormal canal.
Because of frequent attacks, the fishermen now do not dare to go out for fishing in the deep sea. It has become difficult for them to fish in the Bay, unless the government ensures security, they said.
Lieutenant KM Mamunur Rashid, Staff Officer (Operation) of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Mongla West Zone told the news agency that a joint operation is going on in the areas to nab the robbers.
However, no fishermen could be rescued yet and no robbers arrested.
Meanwhile, three arrested staff members of Sundarban Forest Department were suspended last week on charge of abetting robbers to flee the scene during their gun battle with Rab and Coastguard.
They are Azad Sheikh, guard of Patkosta forest camp, forest boatmen Toyab Ali, 52, and Jasim Sikdar, 32.
Sundarban West Zone Forest Officer (DFO) Mohammad Zahir Uddin said the three staff members were arrested by Rab for helping the forest robbers during the gunfight in Patkosta area of Sundarbans on June 13.
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