Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested two active members of the Karim Sharif gang with arms and ammunition from the Sundarbans early Sunday and rescued four fishermen held hostage by the gang.
The operation, conducted under the banner of “Operation Mangrove Shield,” also resulted in the seizure of a cache of firearms and ammunition.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan, Media Officer of the Coast Guard, confirmed the details on Sunday morning, stating that the drive was part of a broader initiative titled “Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans,” carried out under the direct instructions of the home minister to eradicate banditry from the mangrove forest.
Acting on a tip-off regarding the presence of the bandit group near the Dhangmari Canal area under Dacope Police Station in Khulna, a special team from Coast Guard Base Mongla launched the raid at approximately 4am on 17 May 2026.
As the robbers attempted to flee upon sensing the presence of the law enforcement agency, the Coast Guard team pursued and apprehended two individuals. The arrested persons have been identified as Md Robiul Sheikh (30), son of the Rampal Police Station area in Bagerhat, and Rajon Sharif (20), from Morrelganj Police Station in Bagerhat.
According to the Coast Guard, Rajon Sharif served as the Second-in-Command of the Karim Sharif force and had been involved in kidnapping fishermen and Bawalis (honey hunters/woodcutters) for ransom for a long period. It was further noted that Rajon Sharif is a suspect in a murder case filed with the Bagerhat Sadar Police Station.
The items recovered from their possession include one foreign-made single-barrel gun, two locally-made single-barrel guns, and 24 rounds of live cartridges. During the mission, the team successfully rescued four fishermen who were being held hostage by the gang.
This marks the sixth successful drive under “Operation Mangrove Shield”. Officials stated that the process of taking legal action against the arrested bandits and handing over the rescued fishermen to their respective families is currently underway.
The Coast Guard reaffirmed its commitment to continue such operations against bandits and their associates until the Sundarbans are completely free of criminal elements.
