M Iqbal hossain Chattogram Bureau

 A large quantity of firearms, ammunition and nets were seized from three trawlers in the operation. Which is the biggest success of RAB-7 operation in the sea so far.

After the pirates in the Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Bhola and Barisal coastal areas were

hiding for a few days, they have recently started again torturing, oppressing, extorting and abducting the fishermen in the sea. After receiving such a complaint, 30 pirates were arrested by conducting a 48-hour surveillance operation in the land and sea routes of the South Bay of Bengal from Sunday to Monday.

During the initial interrogation, the pirates said that they had been robbing the Bay of Bengal for a week or two. The godfathers’ job is to supply arms, ammunition and trawlers. Pirates monitor whether the law enforcement forces are going on operations at sea through sources at various naval, launch, steamer ports. While coming to the coast, they sell stolen fish and goods as boat owners and fishmongers along with reporting these information. In addition, the pirates used to go to sea and distribute 40 percent of the money from the sale of fish and goods to the alleged godfather, 20 percent for oil consumption and the remaining 40 percent to members directly involved in the robbery.

This group of pirates mainly divided into three groups and carried out their piracy activities. Accused Shahed Majhi was the team leader of the first group. He is originally from Qutubdia area. His team’s job was to provide weapons, boats, nets and accessories to carry out the robbery. Shahed Majhi’s gang had 9 active members.

Accused Yusuf Majhi was the bandit leader of the second group and mastermind of the banditry. He first selects the manpower required for the robbery. Prepared for robbery by giving detailed instructions and assembled at a specific place. After that, he would select the place of robbery and personally present himself and complete the robbery. Yusuf Majhi’s group had 11 members.

Accused Karim Majhi was the leader of the third group. His job was to sell the looted boats, fish, nets and other equipment after the robbery at convenient locations and distribute the money equally to all members of the group. Karim Majhi’s team had 10 members.

It is also known that Yusuf Majhi and Karim Majhi have their own boats and companies, through which they used to carry out piracy activities at sea under the guise of sailors.

They also said that some of the gangs are active members of identified top pirates and robbers and they are active members involved in organized piracy incidents in Banshkhali, Chakaria, Pekua, Qutubdia and Maheshkhali areas. Also, these gangs have been robbing various channels on the sea route including Pekua, Kutubdia, Maheshkhali police station area of Cox’s Bazar district along with Banshkhali of Chattogram for a long time.

The arrested pirates are – Karim (33), Md. Rubel (33), Md. Zafur (35), Shafi Alam (40), Abdur Rahim (25), Md. Shamim (21), Md. Yusuf (29), Shajahan Begum (37), Md. Sahab Uddin (35), Md. Shaukat (37), Md. Ismail (26), Delwar Islam (42), Nur Mohammad (17), Abdur Rahim Sikder (34), Md. Mofizur Rahman (30), Fazal Haque (40), Md. Gias Uddin (26), Md. Akide (19), Md. Akid Khan (37), Md. Didarul Islam (33), Md. Naim (19), Md. Harun (44), Md. Yashin (29), Md. Khalilur Rahman (25), Md. Iqbal Hossain (24), Md. Shahed (22), 27. Md. Hossain (27), Md. Ali Hossain (24), Abdul Mannan (40) and Md. Solomon (38).

On Monday (February 12), the captain of RAB-7 Lt. Colonel Md. Mahbub Alam confirmed this information through press briefing.