Six fishermen, who were among ten abducted by forest robbers from the Satkhira range of the Sundarbans, have returned home after paying ransom to their captors.
The released individuals identified as Saddam Hossain, Yunus Ali, Saiful Islam, Anarul, Imran, and Sushanta returned to their homes between Thursday and late Friday night
According to the returnees, they were abducted on 30 March from the Chunkuri, Malancha, and Mamundo rivers by armed gangs identifying themselves as the ‘Don’ and ‘Alif alias Alim’ forces.
The families of the fishermen reportedly had to pay varying amounts to secure their release. Saddam Hossain confirmed paying Tk40,000, while Anarul, Sushanta, and Imran were released for Tk35,000 each.
Additionally, Tk25,000 was paid for each of Yunus Ali and Saiful Islam. However, four other fishermen, including Enamul and Hazrat, remain missing.
The victims stated that they had entered the forest with valid permits from the Kadamtala station of the Satkhira range to harvest fish and crabs. Despite having legal documentation, they were targeted by the armed gangs who roam the Sundarbans.
Md Fazlul Haque, the Station Officer of Burigoalini in the Satkhira range, stated that the families of the victimised fishermen have not yet officially informed the authorities about the incident.
Khaledur Rahman, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shyamnagar Police Station, noted that fishermen often attempt to resolve such abductions privately without involving law enforcement due to the potential risks to the lives of those still held captive.
“The fishermen often do not want to provide information to the police because of the risks involved. However, we are investigating the matter with high priority,” the OC added
