Baku:Sundarbans Five fishermen were rescued by the Bangladesh Coast Guard after being held hostage by the notorious forest pirate gang 'Dada Bhai Bahini' during a gunfight in the Kanchir Khal area of the Sundarbans, located in the Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the rescue operation was a part of the ongoing special operations 'Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans' and 'Operation Mangrove Shield'. These operations aim to eliminate piracy and ensure security in the coastal areas. The Coast Guard, acting on a tip-off, learned that the 'Dada Bhai Bahini' gang had taken several fishermen hostage to extort ransom, which prompted a joint operation by Coast Guard stations Koyra and Dobeki around midnight.
During the operation, the pirates opened fire on the Coast Guard, who returned fire in self-defense. Unable to withstand the resistance, the pirates fled into the dense forest, leaving the hostages behind. The Coast Guard subsequently searched the area and successfully rescued the fishermen identified as Robiul Islam, Billal Hossain, Alaol Islam, Naushen Mridha, and Shahinur Rahman.
In addition to rescuing the hostages, the Coast Guard seized a single-barrel gun, six rounds of blank cartridges, and three locally made sharp weapons from the scene. Legal procedures regarding the seized weapons and cartridges are underway, and arrangements are being made to safely return the rescued fishermen to their families. The Coast Guard has affirmed that such special operations will continue until piracy is completely eradicated from the Sundarbans.