The Dada Bhai gang fled into the forest after opening fire on Coast Guard personnel during a ransom-hostage rescue operation in Satkhira.
TBS Report
27 October, 2026, 06:25 pm
Last modified: 27 October, 2026, 06:28 pm
The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued five fishermen held hostage for ransom after exchanging gunfire with the Dada Bhai pirate gang in the Sundarbans today (27 October), recovering a firearm, six spent cartridges and three locally made sharp weapons.
The gunfight took place near Kinchir Khal on the Arpangashia River in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira, where the gang had detained the fishermen, Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said.
Acting on intelligence, personnel from the Coast Guard's Koyra and Dobeki stations launched a special operation around midnight. The pirates opened fire after detecting the Coast Guard's presence, prompting the personnel to return fire in self-defence, Sujon said.
The gang eventually fled deep into the forest, leaving the hostages behind. No pirates were arrested.
During a subsequent search, Coast Guard personnel recovered a single-barrel gun, six spent cartridges and three locally made sharp weapons. All five fishermen were rescued alive.
They were identified as Robiul Islam, 35, and Billal Hossain, 26, from Shyamnagar in Satkhira, and Alaol Islam, 32, Naushen Morol, 41, and Shahinur Rahman, 28, from Koyra in Khulna.
Sujon said the Coast Guard was conducting two special operations, Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans and Operation Mangrove Shield, to eliminate active pirate gangs and strengthen security in coastal areas.
Legal procedures regarding the seized weapons and cartridges were under way, alongside arrangements to hand the rescued fishermen over to their families, he added.