The Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested three active members of Karim Sharif bandit force following a gunfight in the Sundarbans as part of “Operation Mangrove Shield”.
Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Suzan confirmed the development on Friday morning.
According to Coast Guard sources, two special operations – “Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans” and “Operation Mangrove Shield” – are currently being conducted under the direct instruction of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to eliminate all active bandit groups in Mangrove forest.
This latest raid marks the fifth successful engagement under the “Operation Mangrove Shield” banner. Acting on a tip-off, a two-day special operation was launched.
The drive, which commenced at 5pm on Wednesday, was carried out by teams from Coast Guard Base Mongla and Station Kokilmoni.
Upon sensing the presence of the law enforcement agency, the bandits opened fire, prompting the Coast Guard to retaliate in self-defence.
Faced with intense resistance, the gang attempted to flee the scene. However, the Coast Guard team pursued them and successfully apprehended three active members of the force.
The team recovered three single-barrel guns, one local pistol, 49 rounds of live cartridges, 187 rounds of airgun pellets, two walkie-talkies, and four walkie-talkie chargers from the possession of the arrestees.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Md Mehedi Hasan, 25, and Md Ramzan Sharif, 19, both residents of Morrelganj Thana in Bagerhat, and Md Enayet, 25, from Bhanga Thana in Faridpur.
Primary interrogation revealed that the trio had long been active members of the Karim Sharif bandit force, involved in committing robberies and kidnapping local fishermen and bawalis (woodcutters) for ransom.
It was further noted that on 13 May, the Forest Department rescued four kidnapped fishermen and handed them over to the Coast Guard following their own departmental efforts.
Legal proceedings regarding the seized weaponry and the detained suspects are currently underway.
