The Bangladesh Coast Guard has rescued four fishermen who were held hostage by the robber gang, Samrat Bahini, in the Sundarbans.
The rescue operation was carried out around 2pm on Sunday in the Arbania Khal area near the Shibsa River in the West Forest Division of the Sundarbans.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, media officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, confirmed the rescue in a press release issued on Monday.
The rescued fishermen were identified as Moinur (50), Badsha Gazi (39), Sujon Hossain (34) and Imamul Mollick (22). All four are residents of Paikgachha upazila in Khulna district.
According to the Coast Guard, members of the Samrat gang abducted the fishermen on 10 October while they were catching crabs in the Sundarbans. The process of handing them over to their families is under way.
Sujon said the Coast Guard was conducting two special operations, ‘Operation Restore Peace in Sundarban’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield’, under government directives to eliminate active forest and water pirate gangs and ensure security across the coastal region.
During the ongoing operations, Coast Guard personnel received information that the Samrat gang was in the Arbania Khal area near the Shibsa River. Acting on the information, a team from the Nalian Outpost under the Coast Guard’s Mongla West Zone launched a special raid.
During the operation, the bandits fled, leaving the hostages behind. Coast Guard personnel then rescued the four fishermen. No gang members were arrested as they managed to escape.
