Mongla, Sept 11 (V7N) - The leader of the notorious Nana Bhai gang and 11 other alleged forest robbers have surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in Mongla, handing over 13 firearms and a large quantity of ammunition.
The surrender took place formally at the Coast Guard Western Zone headquarters in Mongla on Thursday afternoon.
Coast Guard media officer in Dhaka, Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, said Nana Bhai gang leader Jahangir Morol, also known as Rahmat, and 11 other members surrendered to the Coast Guard.
The group handed over one eight-shooter, one six-shooter, one four-shooter, one side-hammer firearm, one bolt-action pistol, two M3 gas guns, two 7.65mm pistols, two one-shooter firearms and two air guns.
They also surrendered 212 rounds of live cartridges, 29 blank cartridges, 20 rounds of 7.65mm pistol ammunition, five rounds of 8mm live ammunition, 413 rounds of air-gun pellets, four pistol magazines, two air-gun magazines and six walkie-talkies with chargers.
The surrendered individuals were identified as Jahangir Morol alias Rahmat, 36; Saifullah Morol, 39; Ekhlasur Rahman, 38; Rabiul Islam, 35; Mofizul Islam, 35; Azim Uddin Gazi, 37; and Abdur Rahman Sheikh, 36. They are residents of Paikgachha and Dumuria upazilas in Khulna district.
The other members were identified as Shafiqul Islam, 53; Mintu Gazi, 39; Azizul Gazi, 35; and Shahjahan Mali, 35, from Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira district, and Azizur Rahman, 45, from Rampal upazila in Bagerhat district.
According to the Coast Guard, the men had allegedly been involved in robberies in the Sundarbans for a long period and had held fishermen and other forest-resource collectors hostage to extort ransom as members of the Nana Bhai gang.
Earlier, a total of 37 members of the Chhoto Suman, Boro Jahangir and Chhoto Jahangir gangs surrendered to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard official urged all active forest robbers in the Sundarbans to surrender and return to normal life. Those who surrender will be given opportunities for rehabilitation through the appropriate authorities, he said.
He warned that those who continue criminal activities will face strict legal action under the government's zero-tolerance policy.
He expressed optimism that the Sundarbans could be made completely free of forest robbers through government directives, public cooperation and coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies.
END/AHS/SMA/
