5 fishermen allegedly abducted by ‘Majnu-Sharif pirate gang’ in Sundarbans

Five fishermen were reportedly abducted by the “Majnu-Sharif pirate gang” in the eastern Sundarbans on Friday night (25 September).

The fishermen were abducted from the Ambaria area of the Shyamnagar Range and Kalamia’s Bharani area of Kotka, according to local fishermen and boat owners.

The abductors also took five mobile phones, other belongings of the fishermen, and a fishing boat, triggering renewed fear of forest gangs among fishermen and fish traders in the coastal areas.

Three of the abducted fishermen were identified as Ripon Sheikh, 26, Farid, 30, and Ripon Howlader, 28. According to their boat owners, they are from Koyra in Khulna and Bagerhat’s Sharankhola and Rampal.

The boat owners, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 10-15 armed members of the pirate gang arrived in a trawler and raided the fishing fleet. They held the fishermen at gunpoint and abducted five of them from separate locations.

Boat owners said the abductors have not yet contacted any of them demanding ransom.

Milton Roy, officer-in-charge of the Dubla patrol outpost under the Sharankhola Range of the eastern Sundarbans, said the authorities and law enforcement agencies had been informed about the abductions.

“Efforts are underway to locate the fishermen,” he said.

Mohammad Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the eastern Sundarbans, also confirmed the mater and said law enforcement agencies had been informed. “An operation is underway to rescue the fishermen.”