Coast Guard recovers firearms and ammunition in Sundarbans

Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered a large quantity of firearms and ammunition during a special operation in the Sundarbans in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat last night.

Lt Commander Shawkat Ahmed (X), BN, Staff Officer (Operations) of Coast Guard Western Zone, disclosed the information today at a briefing at the Coast Guard headquarters in Mongla.

He said the Coast Guard received information that a gang of robbers was staying near the Shela River Forest Office area under Mongla Police Station with an intention to carry out robbery.

Acting on the information, a special operation was conducted by Coast Guard Base Mongla in the area at around 8pm on October 7.

Sensing the presence of the Coast Guard, the robbers fled into the deep forest, making it impossible to arrest or identify them.

Later, Coast Guard personnel searched the area and recovered six single-barrel guns, three air guns, one pipe-gun trigger and 14 rounds of live ammunition that had been concealed there, he said.

Legal proceedings regarding the recovered arms and ammunition are underway, he added.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said the Bangladesh Coast Guard is conducting two special operations -- "Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans" and "Operation Mangrove Shield" -- under government directives as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate active pirate groups from the Sundarbans and ensure security in coastal areas.

The Coast Guard expressed hope that the Sundarbans would be made completely free of pirates through government directives, public cooperation and coordinated efforts by law-enforcement agencies, he added.