Robber killed in gunfight with Rab in Sundarbans

A robber belonging to infamous 'Jihad Bahini' was killed in a gunfight with a joint team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and coastguard on Shukpara Canal in the Sundarbans yesterday.
Acting on a tip-off, Rab personnel and coastguards led by Major Sabbir Rahman Osmani conducted a drive on the canal under Sharankhola range of the mangrove forest at around 12:00 noon.
Sensing their presence of Rab and coastguard members, a gang of 15 to 20 robbers of 'Jihad Bahini' opened fire, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, said Major Sabbir.
At least 700 to 800 bullets were traded during the battle that continued for one and a half hours, Major Sabbir added.
After the gunfight, the law enforcers searched the spot and found the bullet-hit body of a gang member whose identity could not be known as of 6:00pm yesterday.
They also recovered six one shooter guns, a foreign made single-barrel gun, a rifle, two airguns and 34 live cartridges from the spot.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Dubla Fishermen's Group Major (retd) Ziauddin Ahmed has urged the government to intensify regular patrols by Navy, Coastguards and Rapid Action Battalion on the sea and in the Sundarbans to protect its resources from being looted by foreign fishermen.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Major (retd) Ziauddin, who was the sub-sector commander of the 9th Sector during Liberation War in 1971, expressed his grave concern at rampant trespassing of Indian, Thai and Myanmar fishing trawlers into Bangladesh maritime boundary for fishing and looting fish, reports our staff correspondent from Khulna.
Most modern fishing trawlers of these three countries are simply taking advantage of alarming rise in robbery being committed by local bandits, Major Ziauddin said in the statement.