43 robbers surrender, pledge normal life
Forty-three people belonging to six armed gangs active in coastal upazilas Moheshkhali and Kutubdia under the district yesterday surrendered to Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).
They also handed 94 firearms and 8,000 bullets to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at a function on Moheshkhali Ideal High School ground at 11:30am.
Rab and police have long been encouraging the criminals to return to normal life and some media persons mediated in the process.
At one stage, many armed criminals in the coastal areas expressed their willingness to return to normal life and 43 of them surrendered in the first phase yesterday.
“There are more criminals including sea robbers still at large. Attempts will be made to bring them back to normal life,” said local lawmaker Asheq Ullah Rafiq.
Earlier about 250 robbers in the Sundarbans surrendered following persuasion with the help of media people, which helped to restore peace in the large forest area, Rab officials said.
Inspired by the success, the elite force took the initiative for surrender of the criminals in coastal upazilas Moheshkhali, Kutubdia, Pekua, Banskhali and Anwara.
The 43 criminals who surrendered yesterday are from Nonachhari, Jahpua, Adharghona, Hoanker Kalagazirpara, Keruntoli of Moheshkhali upazila and Debengapara, Chhoto Moheshkhali, Kutubjom and Sonadia in Baro Moheshkhali.
Major Mehedi Hasan, company commander of Cox's Bazar camp under Rab-7, expressed hope that fishermen as well as local residents will now feel safe as surrender of the criminals will help the law enforcers to ensure security in the coastal areas with ease.
“With improvement of overall law and order situation in the area, Moheshkhali island and the sea coast will also become safe for the tourists, he said.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Saimum Sarwar Komol MP, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed, DIG (Police) of Chattogram Range Khandaker Golam Faruque, Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Hossain, district Superintendent of Police ABM Masud Hossain, district Awami League President Sirajul Mostafa and General Secretary Mujibur Rahman spoke at the function.