RAB's long range patrol team is now conducting an operation in the Sundarbans of Sharankhola to eradicate the bandits. The special expeditionary team reached the locality adjacent to Sharankhola range on Sunday morning with the "Elite Tigers" trawler. The forest bandit Masum Faraji (45) was arrested in Charduani area adjacent to Sundarban of Patharghata upazila while escaping from the RAB operation, fishermen said.
The expedition team distributed blankets to the poor fishermen present and assured them of their safety. RAB-6 captain Lieutenant Colonel Mostak Ahmed, company commander SP Md. Badruddoza, squad commander Golam Rahman and Abul Kalam Azad were present.
RAB-6 Company Commander Superintendent of Police Badruddoza said that through this operation, the recent new forest bandits will be identified and brought under the law, coordination with the Naval Police, Forest Department and Coast Guard to protect the stability of the bandit-free Sundarbans, and the location of the operation in the Sundarbans at the field level will be identified. , coordinating with the surrendered foresters, informing about the presence and activities of RAB in the Sundarbans, conducting emergency operations against forest bandits, collecting information on the safety of fishermen and providing security assurance.
The RAB captain told reporters that on November 1, 2018, the Prime Minister declared the Sundarbans bandit-free. At that time 326 families of bandits were rehabilitated by the government. After two isolated incidents, RAB strictly suppressed it. Recently, RAB has also started a swift action to nab the new bandits when they started banditry during the fishing season. The RAB operation will continue until the Sundarbans are completely free of bandits. Information is being collected from the fishermen. A team from RAB's intelligence wing, an undercover team and a long range patrol team are working separately in the operation. He expressed hope that their success will come soon.
Meanwhile, the forest bandit Masum Faraji (45) was arrested in Charduani area adjacent to the Sundarbans of Patharghata upazila while escaping from the RAB operation, fishermen said. Masum Faraji is the son of Maqbul Faraji of Khuriakhali village of Sharankhola upazila. He was a member of former forest bandit Badal Bahini.
It should be noted that on the night of December 15, a new group of forest bandits named Nayan Bahini abducted 15 fishermen from Bebir Canal and Harmal Canal area of Chandpai range of Sundarbans demanding their release. After 6 days of abduction, the kidnapped fishermen were freed from the bandits by Muktipan. When the news about this matter was published in different media, action was taken.