Barisal's 'Khokababu' gang surrenders

Twelve pirates including leaders and members of the Sundarbans-based notorious “Khokababu” gang surrendered at Rab-8 headquarters in presence of the home minister and the Rab DG yesterday.

The pirates also surrendered 22 firearms and 1,303 bullets at the Rab office in the district.

The surrender was led by Md Kabirul Islam alias “Khokababu” of Chandpai range of Moukhali canal under the Sundarbans forest region.

The gang was under surveillance of the law enforcers for several months and had no alternative to surrendering, Rab sources said.

“They have surrendered because they lost their operational strength,” added a Rab source.

“We will now take action against those, who have supported the pirate gangs and given them money and shelter,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said.

“Those who have lost their ways of leading a normal life, we are trying to bring them back on right track. The pirates who have surrendered and are not accused of murder and rape would be rehabilitated,” the minister added.

The other surrendered pirates were Amirul Islam, 32, Md Shahjahan Gazi, 30,Md Abdul Aziz, 44, Md Mizanur Rahman, 36, Md Rabiul Islam, 25, Md Osman Gani, 33, Md Rafiqul Gazi, 33, Md Yasin Ali Gazi, 25, Md Mohidul Islam, 33, and Md Mojibor Rahman, 38.

As many as 226 pirates of seven pirate gangs have so far surrendered since May this year with 652 firearms and 18,055 rounds of ammunition, Rab sources said.

AL lawmakers Abul Hasnat Abdullah, advocate Talukdar Md Yunus and Sheikh Jebunnessa Afroz, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed, DIG Barisal Range Sheikh Md Maruf Hasan, Rab-8 Commander Md Iftekharul Mabud, among others, were present.