Fishers in fear of Sundarbans bandits' kidnappings and ransoms; human chain at Kashiabad in Koyra

Thousands of coastal fishers earn their living catching fish in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans. But with bandits carrying out kidnappings, torture and ransom demands, those familiar waterways have now become a name of fear for many. Fishers who depend on the Sundarbans are passing their days in extreme insecurity.

People from various professions held a human chain at Kashiabad in Koyra upazila of Khulna, demanding that the Sundarbans be freed of forest bandits and that a safe environment for fishing be ensured for fishers.

The human chain was held at 3pm on Wednesday (November 4) at the initiative of the Upakul O Sundarban Songrokkhon Andolon (Coast and Sundarbans Conservation Movement). Local public representatives, political leaders, teachers, journalists, businesspeople, representatives of social and voluntary organisations, and forest-dependent people took part.

Speakers at the human chain said kidnapping and extortion by forest bandits have become a major concern for fishers who go into the Sundarbans to catch fish and crabs. There are allegations that many fishers are held hostage for ransom.

According to the speakers, fear of the bandits is forcing some fishers to give up fishing, their only means of livelihood. Not only the fishers, their family members too are falling into financial uncertainty and insecurity.

The speakers also said banditry is not merely a matter of isolated crime. It is tied to the lives and livelihoods of coastal people, the harvesting of Sundarbans resources and overall security.

Alongside operations against the bandits, it is urgent to identify their shelter-givers, financiers and collaborators, the speakers said. They also expressed doubt over whether bandit-elimination efforts would work in the long term if those people are not brought under the law.

The speakers said the Sundarbans is not only a reservoir of natural resources, it is also one of the mainstays of livelihood for the people of the coastal region. Ensuring the safety of the forest and of forest-dependent people are linked to each other.

The human chain demanded regular and coordinated operations to suppress the bandits, stronger patrols on the rivers and canals, safety for fishers, and legal action against the criminals' backers.

The speakers called on the administration to run effective and continuous operations to eliminate forest bandits in the Sundarbans, take special measures for the safety of fishers and forest-dependent people, and ensure exemplary punishment by identifying the bandits' collaborators. They also sought a coordinated initiative by all concerned departments to protect the security of the Sundarbans and the livelihoods of coastal people.