Pirate gang says farewell to arms in Barisal
Staff Reporter, Barisal
As many as 20 pirates of Jahangir Bahini, including the gang leaders, surrendered to home minister Asaduzaman Khan at the RAB-8 complex in Barisal yesterday. The pirates also surrendered 31 firearms and 1,500 bullets. Addressing the surrender programme, the home minister said, Piracy will be totally uprooted from the Sundarbans. No one will be allowed to create terror there. He said the government was also keeping a watch over those who patronised the pirates. They will be brought to book soon, he added.
RAB director general Benazir Ahmed, who attended the programme as a special guest, said: We have created a database of pirates. We also have a rehabilitation programme for those who are willing to surrender.
On their part, the surrendered pirates urged other gangs to lay down arms and join the mainstream. They were later sent to jail.
According to RAB sources, a total 92 pirates belonging to nine gangs have surrendered to the elite security force so far. They have also handed over 195 firearms and 10,136 bullets.
These pirates belonged to Master Bahini, Monju Bahini, Ilias Bahini, Santo Bahini, Alam Bahini, Sagar Bahini, Khokababu Bahini, Noya Bahini and Jahangir Bahini. RAB sources said two more pirate gangs were still active in the northern parts of the Sundarbans and six were operating in the southern parts of the mangrove forest.
