Khulna: Forest bandits have abducted five fishermen from the coastal Khalkhali canal in the Sundarbans at gunpoint, demanding ransom. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon. Though three out of the five fishermen were freed after paying the ransom as demanded, two are still held captive. The fishermen still in captivity are Mofijur Rahman, 33, and Mrinal Sardar, 3, residents of Satkhira’s Shyamnagar and Khulna’s Koyra upazilas, respectively.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the fishermen who paid the ransom are Joydeb, Mukul, and Rezaul, all from separate villages of Shyamnagar. Abdur Rahim, a fisherman who managed to escape, stated that they went to catch crabs two days prior. On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, they were captured by four armed men near Khalkhali and Chhunkuri rivers. After receiving Tk 10,000 for each as ransom, the bandits released three of the fishermen.
Another fisherman, Abul Basar, reported that the kidnappers were armed with two single-barreled guns and resorted to
using sticks to beat the fishermen immediately after capturing them. Hasanur Rahman, Assistant Forest Conservator of Satkhira range, mentioned that no formal complaints have been made regarding the kidnapping or ransom incidents, though they were informed through media reports. Shyamnagar Police Station’s Inspector (Investigation) Fakir Taijur Rahman confirmed that no written complaints have been filed by the families of the kidnapped fishermen thus far.