14 abducted fishermen rescued in Sundarbans

Members of Forest Guard rescued 14 abducted fishermen and seven fishing boats following a gunfight with forest robbers in Gatar Khal area of Katka sanctuary in the Sundarbans in Bagerhat on Saturday, reports UNB.

A Forest Guard team was conducting regular boat patrol in Gatar Khal (Cannel) around 1:30pm. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, robbers opened fire on them, forcing the Forest Guard members to retaliate that triggered a gunfight, said divisional forest officer (DFO) of Sundarbans east zone Mahmudul Hasan.

However, it was not immediately known that anyone of the robbers was hurt during the gunfight, he added.

Later, the law enforcers rescued six fishermen who were abducted for ransom recently and seized three boats around 5:00pm, said the DFO.

Following the gunfight, members of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) and Forest Guard jointly conducted several drives in different places in the forest and rescued eight more fishermen and three boats, said Lt Commander Mahdin, commanding officer of BCG West Zone in Mongla.

Meanwhile, no forest robber was detailed till filing of this report.