Thirty-four pirates from 11 gangs have surrendered in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram.
They surrendered their arms to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at a public gathering by Rapid Action Battalion on the Banshkhali Adarsh High School ground on Thursday afternoon.
These pirates from Maheshkhali, Kutubdia of Cox's Bazar district and Banshkhali area of Chittagong had already prepared for surrender through RAB in the hope of returning to normal life.
RAB spokesperson s Lieutenant Colonel Ashiq Billah said RAB-7 had been working in the field for a long time to suppress the Bay of Bengal-based piracy and surrender of the mighty pirates.
Following this, 34 pirates of 11 forces surrendered their weapons to the Home Minister at the surrender ceremony on Thursday and surrendered to the RAB and expressed their determination to lead a normal life, he added.
Home Minister Shamsul Haque Tuku, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, local lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman, RAB Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Ilias Hossain and other officials were present on the occasion. RAB-7 captain Lt. Colonel Mashiur Rahman Jewel presided over the ceremony.
Relatives and family members of the surrendering pirates were also present on the occasion.