Khulna Bureau

Three active members of the notorious "Boro Jahangir Vahini" pirate group surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the Sundarbans on Wednesday evening, marking another significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to eradicate forest registries and pirate syndicates from the coastal region. The surrender also led to the recovery of local firearms, ammunition, operational equipment, and the successful rescue of a fisherman held hostage by the gang.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the Media Officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Headquarters informed this in a press release on Thursday morning.

The press release said, the continuous pressure from the Coast Guard’s dual operations—"Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans" and "Operation Mangrove Shield"—has heavily cornered active pirate groups, forcing members to defect and lay down their arms.

The surrender took place at around 5:00 PM on July 8 in the Kalamuli Khal area, adjacent to the Tambulbunia Forest Office under Sharankhola Police Station in Bagerhat. The three surrendering pirates have been identified as Alamin Hossain, 40, from Mongla in Bagerhat; Taibur Rahman, 24, from Tala in Satkhira; and Moniruzzaman Mamun, 20, from Koyra in Khulna. During the event, the trio turned over two local single-barrel guns, one local pipe gun, 40 rounds of live cartridges, and a walkie-talkie. A fisherman, who had been abducted by the gang for ransom, was safely rescued from their custody during the operation.

According to official DNC records, the Boro Jahangir Vahini had long been terrorizing the mangrove forest, routinely abducting local fishermen, honey-collectors (Bawalis), and woodcutters to extract heavy ransoms. The process of rehabilitating the surrendering pirates, completing legal formalities regarding the seized arms, and safely reuniting the rescued fisherman with his family is currently underway.

The Coast Guard’s stepped-up offensive has drastically crippled pirate operations across the delta. Since February 12, 2026, law enforcement drives have led to the arrest of 42 pirates and the recovery of 49 local and foreign firearms, 10 live shells, 316 live cartridges, 108 blank cartridges, 194 airgun pellets, and two walkie-talkies. Additionally, 41 hostages have been rescued alive and provided with medical aid before being sent home. Prior to this event, seven members of another notorious gang, the "Choto Suman Vahini", had similarly surrendered with their arsenal.

The Coast Guard reiterated the government’s "zero tolerance" policy against criminal elements in the Sundarbans. The maritime security force urged all remaining active pirates to surrender and return to normal life, promising that the government would provide formal rehabilitation opportunities through higher authorities.

However, the force warned that those who choose to ignore the call and persist with criminal activities will face severe legal consequences as anti-pirate operations and intelligence surveillance continue at full strength.