Suspected forest pirates abducted six fishermen in the Sundarbans, demanding ransom and threatening execution, while families await their return and authorities say no formal complaint has been filed.
Six fishermen were abducted deep inside the Sundarbans by suspected forest pirates who demanded ransom and threatened to kill the captives if payment was not made, according to family members and local sources.
The abductors, identifying themselves as members of the notorious Nanabhai Don pirate gang, allegedly seized the fishermen from the Chalteberia Canal and Subde Canal areas of the Malancha River in the Sundarbans at around 11:00 pm on Sunday.
The pirates demanded a ransom of Tk 30,000 for each captive and warned that the fishermen would be killed and their bodies dumped into the river if the money was not transferred to a bKash account by 3:00 pm on Monday.
During the incident, Ismail Khan, son of Gani Khan from the Kultali area of South Kadamtali, was seriously injured after being struck on the head with a boat oar. He was admitted to Shyamnagar Upazila Health Complex on Monday afternoon in critical condition.
The abducted fishermen were identified as Yasin Khan, 32, and Alamgir Khan, 38, sons of Delwar Khan from Kultali in South Kadamtali, Shyamnagar; Al Amin Molla, 35, son of Abdur Rahim Molla from Harinagar; Kamrul Gazi, 50, son of Nurul Haque Gazi from the same village; Shahjahan Gazi, 48, son of Abdul Gafur Gazi; and Shahidul Gazi, 46, son of Rofiqul Gazi from Maheshwaripur village in Koyra upazila of Khulna district.
Relatives of the victims said 18 fishermen had entered the Sundarbans on Saturday in five boats after obtaining official permits to catch crabs from the Kadamtala Station under the Satkhira Range of the forest.
Under government regulations aimed at protecting wildlife and the environment, the fishermen were scheduled to return home on the morning of June 1.
According to family members, the fishermen were stationed in the Chalteberia Canal and Subde Canal areas along the Malancha River when several armed pirates approached their boats around 11:00 pm on Sunday. The attackers, who claimed allegiance to the Nanabhai Don gang, allegedly abducted six fishermen from the five boats after demanding Tk 30,000 in ransom for each captive.
The pirates reportedly reiterated their threat to kill the hostages and dispose of their bodies in the river if the ransom was not paid by the stipulated deadline.
Family members said they remain gripped by fear and uncertainty as they await the safe return of the abducted fishermen.
Monirul Karim, the officer in charge of the Kadamtala Forest Station in the Sundarbans, said he was unaware of the incident.
Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Khaledur Rahman said no complaint had yet been filed by the families of the abducted fishermen.
“We have not received any complaint from the victims’ families. Necessary action will be taken if a written complaint is submitted,” he said.
