Sundarbans under siege again

The dense waterways of the Sundarbans, once declared free of pirates, are again echoing with fear.

Nearly 20 armed gangs have resurfaced across the world’s largest mangrove forest, abducting fishermen, extorting traders and demanding hefty ransoms, turning vast stretches of the forest into zones of terror.

The nightmare began for Sagir Boyati, a fisherman from Chalitabunia in Sarankhola, on 3 February.
He had ventured into the forest’s Khajurachar area to cast his nets. Instead, he and another fisherman were abducted by members of the notorious “Boro Jahangir Bahini”.

“We were blindfolded and held for five days,” Sagir told the Daily Sun over phone. “Eight of us were kept together. Six were released after ransom was paid. However, we still do not know what happened to the other two.”

He said he secured his freedom only after paying Tk 80,000, four days before the 13th parliamentary election.
According to the fisherman, ransom was not new to him.

Sagir revealed that he had already paid Tk1.70 lakh to four different gangs for “tokens”, unofficial permits allowing him to fish in certain zones for a year. These extortion payments must be renewed annually.

“Even after paying them every year, I could not save myself,” he said. “I will never dare enter the Sundarbans again.”

A forest divided by gangs
Talking to the locals, the Daily Sun learned that the 20 armed groups include Jahangir Bahini, Chhoto Sumon Bahini, Sharif Bahini, Karim Bahini, Boro Jahangir Bahini, Alif Bahini, Jonab Bahini, Dulabhai Bahini, Asabur Bahini, Karim Sharif Bahini, Abdullah Bahini, Manjur Bahini, Doyal Bahini, Robi Bahini, Ranga Bahini, Anwarul Bahini, Hannan Bahini, Dadabhai Bahini and Elias Bahini.

Each group allegedly controls specific waterways and fishing zones, operating a shadow taxation system in the forest.

On 16 February, members of Jahangir Bahini and Sumon Bahini reportedly abducted 20 fishermen from the Bay of Bengal while they were fishing.

Milton Roy, forest ranger in-charge of the Dubla Dried Fish Production Centre, confirmed that trawler owners were contacted by the kidnappers through mobile numbers provided by the criminals. “They are demanding Tk3.5 lakh per hostage,” he said. “We are trying to rescue them.”

From Surrender to Resurgence
On 1 November, 2018, the then Awami League government had declared the Sundarbans free of pirates after 328 members of 32 gangs surrendered, laying down 462 firearms and over 22,000 rounds of ammunition. For years, the forest enjoyed relative calm.

However, sources within the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) say many former gang members returned to criminal networks following the political transition on 5 August, 2024.

Senior journalist Mohsinul Hakim, who played a key role in facilitating the earlier surrender process, said the masterminds and arms suppliers had been identified at the time. However, he believed dormant networks had regrouped.

“The system that dismantled them weakened. And they took advantage,” he said.

Fresh Security Push
Alarmed by the resurgence, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam held a high-level meeting in Khulna on Sunday, directing law enforcement agencies to free the forest from criminal elements.

According to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, a joint combing operation involving the Navy, Coast Guard, police and RAB began on Monday.

Lt Col Nistar Ahmed, commanding officer of RAB-6, said operations would continue “until the Sundarbans is freed from gangs again”.

Lives on the edge
For thousands of fishermen and honey collectors who depend on the Sundarbans, the return of armed gangs revived old fears. 

Fishing trips now begin with silent prayers. Many avoid deep forest areas altogether, sacrificing income for safety. Others take the risk knowing that even extortion payments could not guarantee survival.
The Sundarbans, a UNESCO-recognised ecological treasure and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, is once again a battleground between law enforcers and criminal syndicates.

Until the waterways are secured, those who enter the forest for livelihood will continue to sail under the shadow of guns.