Barguna, May 22 (V7N) — Armed pirate groups have reportedly become increasingly active in the Bay of Bengal near the Sundarbans, abducting 39 fishermen from 11 fishing trawlers during coordinated late-night attacks off Bangladesh’s southern coast, local sources and law enforcement officials said on Thursday.

The attacks took place on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the Katka and Keoratola areas adjacent to the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Survivors alleged that members of the pirate group, identified locally as the “Jahangir Bahini,” also known as the “Katun Bahini,” stormed the fishing fleet with sophisticated foreign-made firearms and carried out large-scale looting before kidnapping the fishermen.

Several fishermen managed to escape by jumping into nearby canals during the assault. One of the escapees reportedly recovered a black T-shirt left behind by the attackers. The shirt bore the words “Manobota Foundation” on the front and “Courtesy: Jahangir Bhai” on the back, raising fresh concerns among local residents over the identity and activities of the armed group.

Kalam Mia, a trawler owner from Ruhita village under Patharghata Sadar Union, described the terrifying ordeal to journalists after returning home on Thursday night.

“At around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the pirates attacked our fixed-net fishing trawlers stationed near Keoratola in the Sundarbans,” he said. “The group consisted of around 25 to 30 heavily armed men. They first opened fire on my trawler. While some fishermen escaped by jumping into the canal, the pirates captured four fishermen along with the trawler.”

According to Kalam Mia, the pirates later split into two groups and seized several additional fishing trawlers operating nearby. Besides looting food supplies, fuel, fishing equipment, and valuables, the attackers abducted 39 fishermen and took them deep into the forest region.

Families of the abducted fishermen alleged that the pirates are demanding a ransom of approximately Tk 150,000 (around USD 1,230) for each captive in exchange for their release.

The abducted fishermen are residents of Patharghata Sadar Union in Barguna district and Rajapur Upazila various villages in neighboring Jhalokathi district. Among those identified are trawler owner Masum, along with Ibrahim, Yasin, Hossain, Tawhid, Selim, Zakir Munshi, Hanifa, Hridoy, and Sumon. Authorities said at least 27 additional fishermen from Rajapur, including Alam Hawlader, Yusuf Khan, and Forkan, also remain missing.

Patharghata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Enamul Haque confirmed that police have begun collecting information regarding the abductions, although no formal written complaint has yet been filed.

A source from the media wing of the Coast Guard South Zone stated that the incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard West Zone in Mongla. Multiple rescue teams have already launched operations in the Sundarbans in an effort to locate and free the abducted fishermen.

Patharghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tapas Pal said various law enforcement agencies are conducting coordinated operations in the Sundarbans to rescue the captives.

“We are hopeful that the abducted fishermen will be rescued soon,” he added.

END/MMR/SMA/