More than 10,000 fishermen in the Sundarbans have halted fishing operations amid rising fears of attacks by forest pirates, underscoring renewed security concerns in the region.
Fishermen based in Dubla Char, a major centre for dry-fish processing, stopped going to sea and entering the rivers from Wednesday evening after 20 of their colleagues were reportedly abducted on Monday night, reports UNB.
Their whereabouts remain unknown, fuelling anxiety across nearby communities.
Dubla Fishermen Group President and freedom fighter Md Kamal Uddin Ahmed told UNB from Alorkol that weak security arrangements in the Sundarbans and adjacent waters have left fishermen fearing further abductions.
“Over 10,000 fishermen engaged in dry-fish processing stopped fishing in the sea and rivers from Wednesday evening and are now staying idle on the char,” he said.
As the fishing season approaches its end, many are worried about returning home without earnings.
He alleged that four pirate gangs — Jahangir, Suman, Sharif and Karim Bahini — are currently active in the area, abducting fishermen and demanding ransom.
Those who fail to pay are often subjected to severe beatings, he added.
The return of piracy comes after several years of relative calm.
Although the Sundarbans were declared pirate-free in 2018, incidents have reportedly increased under the interim administration.
At least four fishermen were admitted to Rampal Hospital last week with serious injuries following pirate attacks.
Motasim Forazi, president of the Rampal Fishermen’s Association in Alorkol, described the situation, “Earlier we used to say, ‘Crocodiles in water, tigers on land.’ Now it’s ‘pirates at sea.”
He said over 100 fishermen are currently being held captive, with multiple abductions recorded in the past two weeks. The 20 men taken on Monday have yet to be traced, though the pirates reportedly left a mobile number for ransom negotiations.
Officials from the Forest Department expressed concern over the economic impact.
Milton Roy, officer-in-charge of the Dubla Patrol Outpost under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, warned that the fishing halt could cause significant revenue losses.
Sharankhola Forest Station Officer Md Khalilur Rahman noted that no fishermen are currently collecting permits, a situation likely to affect the division’s monthly revenue targets. Local traders, including grocers Jalal Molla, Anwar Saudagar, and Ripon Hawlader, reported a sharp decline in business due to the fishing suspension.
Assistant Conservator of Forests Md Shariful Islam said authorities have been alerted to the rise in piracy, and forest guards are working to safeguard fishermen.
As the community waits anxiously for news of the missing fishermen, the fragile balance between livelihoods and security in the Sundarbans remains under severe threat.
