Staff Correspondent, Khulna:

‎The chief of the notorious Nana Bhai gang and its 11 active members have been surrendered to the Coast Guard West Zone along with handing over a good number of firearms and ammunitions.

‎The surrendered forest robbers are Jahangir Moral alias Rahmat, 36; Saifullah Moral, 39; Ekhlasur Rahman, 38; Rabiul Islam, 35; Mofizul Islam, 35; Azim Uddin Gazi, 37; and Abdur Rahman Sheikh, 36, all residents of Paikgacha and Dumuria upazilas of Khulna district. The others are Shafiqul Islam, 53; Mintu Gazi, 39; Azizul Gazi, 35; and Shahjahan Mali, 35, residents of Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district; and Azizur Rahman, 45, a resident of Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district.

‎As members of the Nana Bhai gang, they had long been carrying out robberies in the Sundarbans and kidnapping ordinary fishermen and baowalis (forest-resource collectors) to extort ransom.

‎Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon disclosed the information in a press release on Thursday afternoon.

‎He said that a total of 29 forest robbers have so far been arrested with a large quantity of firearms and ammunition through special operations. During these operations, 42 fishermen and baowalis who had been held hostage by the robbers were rescued alive. After receiving necessary medical assistance, they were safely handed over to their families.

‎Coast Guard briefing officer Commander Md Mansurun Mahdin said the Coast Guard’s continuous and successful operations have left various active robber gangs in the Sundarbans increasingly cornered, preventing them from carrying out their activities.

‎As a result, a total of 37 active members of various identified robber gangs—including the Chhoto Sumon gang, three active members of the Boro Jahangir gang and members of the Chhoto Jahangir gang—have already surrendered to the Coast Guard along with firearms and ammunition.

‎Against this backdrop, at around 6:00pm on Tuesday, September 8, the chief of the Nana Bhai gang, Jahangir Moral, along with 11 other active members of the gang, surrendered to the Coast Guard at Dhansiddhir Char area of the Sundarbans under Mongla Police Station in Bagerhat.

‎At the time of their surrender, they handed over to the Coast Guard one eight-shooter, one six-shooter, one four-shooter, one side-hammer, one bolt-action pistol, two M3 gas guns, two 7.65mm pistols, two one-shooters, two air guns, 212 rounds of live cartridges, 29 rounds of blank cartridges, 20 rounds of 7.65mm pistol bullets, five rounds of 8mm live ammunition, 413 rounds of air-gun pellets, four pistol magazines, two air-gun magazines and six walkie-talkies with chargers.

‎He further said that legal procedures, including the seizure of the firearms and ammunition and arrangements for the rehabilitation of the surrendered robbers, are currently underway.

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