12 members of Sundarbans 'Nana Bhai Gang' surrender with 13 firearms

Twelve members of the notorious Nana Bhai gang, including it's chief, have surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the Sundarbans, handing over 13 firearms and a large cache of ammunition.

The gang members formally surrendered at Coast Guard Base Mongla on Thursday afternoon (September 10).

Following completion of legal procedures, they will be produced before a court, officials said.

The Coast Guard took the 12 active members, led by gang chief Jahangir Moral alias Rahmat, into custody at Dhansiddhir Char in the Sundarbans on Tuesday evening.

Commander Md Mansurun Mahdin, executive officer of BCGS Kamruzzaman, said the surrendered gang members handed over six-shooters, side-hammer and bolt-action pistols, a 7.65mm pistol and an M3 gas gun, among other weapons.

The haul also included 413 rounds of airgun ammunition, 212 rounds of live cartridges of different calibres, four pistol magazines, two airgun magazines and six walkie-talkies with chargers.

The 12 men, aged between 35 and 53, are from different areas of Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira. Coast Guard officials said they had long been involved in robberies in the Sundarbans and held fishermen and forest workers hostage for ransom.

Coast Guard media officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said 29 forest robbers have so far been arrested with arms and ammunition during operations aimed at restoring security in the Sundarbans. A total of 42 hostages have also been rescued and handed over to their families after receiving necessary medical assistance.

He said sustained Coast Guard operations have put several armed gangs under increasing pressure, prompting 37 active robbers from different groups to surrender with weapons and ammunition.