BCG Rescues Four Hostage Fishermen, Seizes Weapons and Ammunition in Sundarbans

Members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) rescued four fishermen who were held hostage, along with weapons and ammunition, from the hideout of notorious robber Jahangir Bahini in the Sundarbans. Media Officer of the BCG, Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, said the hostages are Md. Mofizul Islam, 42, Md. Habibur Rahman, 37, Md. Habibur, 35, and Oshahjahan Gazi, 40, residents of Koyra, Dakop, and Shyamnagar upazilas of Satkhira district. Based on secret information, it was learned that Jahangir Bahini had taken some fishermen hostage in the Arbauni Canal area adjacent to the Shibsa River.

On a tip-off, a special drive was conducted in the area at around 5am today  by the Coast Guard Base Mongla and Outpost Nalian. During the drive, an operational team of the BCG fired two rounds of blank  fire to call on the robbers to surrender. Later, they [robbers] fled into the  forest, leaving behind the boat and the hostages.  The team seized one single-barrel gun, two air guns and three rounds of live  cartridges after searching the robbers' boat. At that time, four fishermen  who were held hostage were rescued. During interrogation of the rescued fishermen, it was revealed that members  of the Jahangir Bahini had been holding them hostage for 10 days and  torturing them in order to extort ransom.

The process of taking further legal action against the rescued fishermen and  the seized weapons and ammunition is under process.