Govt firm to keep Sundarbans free of bandits: Home minister
BSS
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said the government is determined to keep the Sundarbans free of dangers, reports BSS from Barguna. The Sundarbans is one of the important areas in the country and an economic zone. The government is pledge-bound to keep the Sundarbans free of dangers, he said while speaking as the chief guest at a function marking the surrendering of a bandit group of the Sundarbans at Barguna Circuit House. The minister said the government is pledge-bound to free the entire Bangladesh from terrorists and bandits. The government has increased capability of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and Coast Guard in the Sundarbans areas, he added. A bandit group known as Sagor Bahini formally surrendered to the home minister with their arms and ammunitions. The bandits were 13 in number, including its chief M Alamgir Sheikh Alias Sagor (35) and its second-in-command M Kamrul Fakir.
Police and RAB said they hail from Bagerhat and Morelganj areas. While surrendering, they deposited eight foreign-made single-barrel guns, three local guns, one foreign-made double-barrel gun, two air rifles, four LGs, two cut rifles and 596 rounds of ammunition.
The home minister welcomed the bandits for returning to normal life said those who surrendered will get all cooperation from the government. The government will help all other bandit groups if they surrender and want to return to normal life, he added. The government is showing zero tolerance towards to the bandits, the home minister said, adding that the Prime Minister is very firm and at the same time humane in this regard. RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed was present on the occasion, among others. Earlier, RAB-8 conducted a raid in the Sundarbans on Wednesday and consequently members of the gang led by Sagor surrender to the lawmen.
