Seven fishermen from Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira were allegedly kidnapped by a forest robber gang while working in different canals of the Sundarbans over the past two days, despite a temporary ban on entering the forest.
The victims were identified as Ibrahim Sardar, Abdul Hakim, Sujit Munda, Sattar Gazi, Akinur, Bulbul Gazi, and Arafat Hossain.
According to Shyamnagar Police Station officer-in-charge Humayun Kabir Molla, six to seven armed robbers abducted four fishermen from the Dargang River and three others from the Hogol Dokra and Kali canals while they were repairing boats and fishing nets.
Abdul Hamid Laltu, a local Union Parishad member, said that the robbers belonged to the ‘Munna Bahini’ gang and demanded Tk 50,000 in ransom for each victim, citing accounts from a fisherman, Sujon Munda, who was released after paying the ransom.
Fazlul Haque, assistant forest conservator of the Satkhira range, said forest entry is currently banned until August 31, but he had received reports from locals about the abductions.
SR
