Staff Reporter:
Coast Guard personnel rescued four fishermen from the Sundarbans who had been kidnapped by robbers demanding ransom, officials said on Friday.
The rescued fishermen were identified as Md Mofizul Islam, 42, Md Habibur Rahman, 37, Shahjan Ali, 40, and Md Habibur, 35, all residents of Khulna and Satkhira districts.
The rescue operation was carried out early Friday morning near the Arbauni Canal along the Shipsa River in the eastern Sundarbans by members of the Mongla Coast Guard base and Nalian outpost. During the operation, three firearms and three live rounds used by the robbers were recovered. However, the gang members managed to escape, and no arrests were made.
According to Coast Guard sources, the fishermen had been held hostage for 10 days by the notorious Jahangir gang in the Sundarbans.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, Coast Guard media officer, said the gang had abducted several fishermen for ransom and kept them captive at their hideout. Acting on a tip-off, Coast Guard members launched a special operation at 5:00am Friday in the Arbauni Canal area. During the raid, two blank rounds were fired to urge the robbers to surrender, but the gang escaped into the deep Sundarbans with their boats and hostages.
Later, the Coast Guard searched the abandoned boat and rescued the four fishermen. In addition to the firearms, an air gun and three live rounds used by the gang were recovered.
Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed that legal action is underway regarding the rescued fishermen and the seized weapons and ammunition.
