A total of 59 members belonging to five active pirate gangs operating in the Sundarbans have surrendered to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) under its “Operation Restore Peace in Sundarban” campaign.
During the operation, law enforcement authorities recovered 59 firearms, 541 rounds of live ammunition, 14 empty cartridges, and seven walkie-talkies.
RAB Director General Additional IGP Md Ahsan Habib Palash disclosed this information during a view-exchange meeting with journalists on Wednesday at RAB-6 Battalion Headquarters in Khulna.
According to RAB director general, RAB forces have been conducting continuous special operations since 2 March to keep the Sundarbans safe and free of pirates.
As a continuation of these operations, the 59 members of the five active pirate groups surrendered to RAB on 31 August.
The surrendered individuals include 16 members from the Boro Jahangir gang, 13 from the Anarul gang, 15 from the Afzal alias Dulabhai gang, eight from the Aftab gang, and seven from Mizan gang.
Following the surrenders, subsequent intelligence-driven sweep operations were carried out across various areas of the Sundarbans.
These operations yielded a recovery of four shotguns, 47 one-shooter guns, four pipe guns, three airguns, one .22 bore rifle, and seven walkie-talkies. Additionally, 541 rounds of live ammunition and 14 empty cartridges were seized alongside these weapons.
The RAB director general noted that UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sundarbans is the primary livelihood source for approximately 2.5 million people living along the country’s south-western coast.
Since the 1980s, fishermen, forest-dwellers, and others dependent on the forest have faced hostage situations, torture, and illegal extortion by pirates and forest bandits.
Palash added that “Operation Restore Peace in Sundarban” is being executed as a key government initiative in coordination with RAB, the Coast Guard, local administration, River Police, and Forest Department.
For undisturbed breeding and movement of wildlife and preserve biodiversity, the entry of tourists and forest-dwellers into the Sundarbans was prohibited for three months, from 1 June to 31 August.
Following the end of the ban, the Sundarbans reopened to tourists and forest-dwellers on 1 September, subject to prevailing rules and permissions.
Palash remarked that the surrender of the 59 pirates on 31 August, just a day before the reopening, will have a highly positive impact on the safety of forest-dwellers, the safe movement of tourists, and local economic activities in the Sundarbans region.
Addressing the remaining active pirates, he urged them to abandon the path of crime, return to normal life, and surrender.
Palash emphasised that RAB is committed to providing maximum cooperation to those who choose to surrender. However, those who persist with piracy will face the sternest legal actions.
He reiterated that RAB’s “zero tolerance” policy remains active to ensure a pirate-free Sundarbans and safeguard the coastal population. In the future, the elite force will work even more resolutely to uphold the rule of law, protect human rights, guarantee citizen security, and bring offenders to justice.
