Runaway inmates reportedly turn into Sundarbans pirates

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, a group of inmates fled after looting weapons from Satkhira Jail and reportedly indulged in robbery in the Sundarbans. Abdullah Tarafdar,42, a such fugitive, is allegedly leading this bandit group. This has created panic among the forest dwellers. The bandits have already been accused of abducting a fisherman named Shafiqul Gazi and demanded a ransom of 1.5 lakh taka.

The chief of the gang Abdullah Tarafdar is son of Akbar Tarafdar of Kalinchi village in Ramjannagar union of Shyamnagar upazila under Satkhira. It is learnt that Abdullah Tarafdar was incarcerated at Satkhira prison in the case filed under women trafficking. On August 5, he broke out of the jail and looted weapons and took shelter in a relative's house in Paranpur village of Kaikhali union in Shyamnagar. Later on the night of August 6, Abdullah entered the Sundarbans through the Mirgang junction with the help of Alim Ghazi and Razzaq Ghazi, sons of Zahir Ghazi of Tengrakhali village and Safiqul Islam, son of Pagla Sultan of the same village. A group of 10 to 12 people joined the gang of Abdullah. Most of them are prison escapees. According to sources, the houses of these pirates are in Satkhira and Mautla in Kaliganj.

On condition of anonymity, several fishermen said that a group of 10 to 12 pirates is residing at Dargang, Atharobeki, Kachikata, Raimangal, Kachukhali and Maondo rivers of Sundarbans. The pirates also threatened the fishermen to bring a large sum of money with them when they enter the forest next time. Several fishermen have confirmed that forest pirates are active again in the Sundarbans under the leadership of Abdullah Tarafdar. The fishermen informed that they have recognized alot of people from the group including Abdullah Tarafdar.

Meanwhile, Alim Gazi, son of Zahir Gazi of Tengarkhali village, denied helping Abdullah Tarafdar in piracy and said, "I came home from the forest yesterday and heard that pirates are active in the forest. A group of people is lying to frame my brother Razzak and me. Later, when contacted with Safiqul Islam over the phone, his mother Rabeya Begum answered the call and said that Safiqul and Razzaq are in the forest. When asked about her son’s involvement with piracy, she said, "This is an attempt to frame my son." Hasna Jahan Bithi, Jailer of Satkhira District Jail informed that 7-8 people who escaped from jail including Abdullah Tarafdar have not surrendered yet. The administration has started an operation to arrest them. Satkhira Range Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) KM Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury said that he heard that forest pirates are active again in Sundarbans. But action will be taken after getting any specific complaint.