Bangladesh Coast Guard has issued an urgent call for active robbers operating in the Sundarbans to surrender immediately, in accordance with the government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy towards crime.
The force has offered rehabilitation opportunities for those who surrender, warning that those who do not comply will face increasingly severe actions.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the Coast Guard Media Officer, shared this information in a press release on Thursday afternoon.
He noted that two special operations, ‘Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield’, are currently being conducted to ensure security in the mangrove forest and protect the lives of fishermen, honey collectors (mouwalis), and woodcutters (bawalis).
Since 12 February, the Coast Guard has successfully seized 26 domestic and foreign firearms, a large cache of ammunition, and walkie-talkies. During these operations, 21 forest robbers were detained, and 20 hostages were rescued and returned to their families.
Due to the sustained pressure and intelligence-led operations, the notorious ‘Chhoto Suman Bahini’ group recently decided to surrender. At approximately 11pm on Sunday, the group’s leader, Suman Hawlader, and six associates surrendered to the Coast Guard in the Nandabala Khal area of Mongla, Bagerhat.
They handed over three domestic single-barrel guns, two domestic pipe guns, 25 rounds of live ammunition, and three empty cartridges.
The surrendered individuals have been identified as Suman Hawlader, Robiul Mollik, Rafiq Sheikh, Siddique Hawlader, Golam Mollik, and Ismail Khan from Mongla, alongside Mahfuz Mollik from Rampal. The group had long been involved in robbery and the kidnapping of forest workers for ransom.
Captain Mohammad Mesbah-ul-Islam, Zonal Commander of the Coast Guard West Zone, stated that effective operations have significantly weakened and isolated active robber groups.
He cautioned that certain local “dishonest circles” are attempting to spread misleading and baseless information to undermine the force’s achievements, though he asserted that such propaganda would not deter their efforts to eliminate crime.
Legal proceedings and rehabilitation arrangements for the surrendered robbers and the seized weaponry are currently being processed. Captain Mesbah-ul-Islam reiterated his call for all remaining active robbers to abandon their criminal lives and return to normalcy through surrender.
