Five fishermen rescued from pirates in Sundarban

KHULNA, Oct 27: The Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) rescued five fishermen held hostage by the notorious Dada Bhai Bahini pirate gang following a gunfight in the Sundarban in Satkhira District, officials said on Tuesday.

The pirates fled into the forest during a joint operation by BCG stations Koyra and Dobeki in the Kanchir Khal area of Shyamnagar Upazila, leaving the hostages behind. No arrests were made.
BCG Media Officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon confirmed the operation in a press release on Tuesday afternoon.

The BCG said personnel launched the operation around midnight after receiving a tip that the gang had abducted fishermen and was demanding ransom. The pirates opened fire after sensing the BCG’s presence, prompting personnel to return fire in self-defence.

The rescued fishermen are Robiul Islam, 35, and Billal Hossain, 26, from Shyamnagar, and Alaol Islam, 32, Naushen Mridha, 41, and Shahinur Rahman, 28, from Koyra Upazila in Khulna District.
The VCG seized a single-barrel gun, six blank cartridges and three locally made sharp weapons at the scene.

Authorities were processing the seized items and arranging to return the fishermen to their families, the statement said.