Fishermen catch fish in a river near Sundarbans Mangrove Forest in southern Bangladesh. Thousands of fishermen and poor villagers have become victims of gangs of pirates in the area over the years. (Photo by Stephan Uttom)
A church official has called on Bangladeshi authorities to rescue fishermen kidnapped by river pirates in the south of the country on Sept. 14.
A gang of 10-12 river pirates beat up 20 fishermen, stole their catch and held them for ransom on Dhanshiddhir Char, a small island in Bagerhat district in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest.
The pirates have demanded a 100,000 taka (US$ 1,282) ransom for the release of each of the men, reports United News of Bangladesh.
"This is just another awful incident in a series of pirate attacks in the area. The authorities must rescue and protect these ill-fated people at any cost," said Father James Mondol, from the Justice and Peace Commission in Khulna Diocese.
"River piracy is a serious problem that impacts coastal communities. The pirates often attack and kidnap fishermen and villagers who enter into the forest to fish and collect honey and firewood," the priest said.
"Over the years, hundreds of people have been abducted by pirates and many remain missing for years. I know some Christians who were kidnapped and never came back," he said.
During the fishing season, which runs from September to March, pirates demand each fishing trawler pay a "tax" of 20,000-25,000 taka (US$256-320) to work in the area, according to Father Mondol.
In coastal Bangladesh, saline water intrusion hinders agriculture and a lack of alternative employment spurs the emergence and flourishing of pirate gangs, according to Tapas Sarker, Disaster Management Officer at Caritas, the Catholic Church's social service agency.
"People are poor and landless. Like the victims, the robbers also come from poor backgrounds. While poor fishermen and forest-dependent villagers take risks entering the forest for livelihood, some opt in for criminal activities," Sarker told ucanews.com.
Lieutenant Fariduzzaman Khan, staff officer at the West Zone of the Bangladesh Coast Guard admits that dealing with the pirates is a struggle.
"Various sources have confirmed 20 fishermen were abducted, but we have not been able to trace or rescue them until now. We are making our best efforts to help them along with the naval police and the anti-terror force," Khan said.
"Sundarbans is a vast area and pirates are can hide deep inside the forest to evade our patrols. Moreover, family members often don't cooperate with us, presumably fearing retaliation. Often, we are forced to work blind," he added.
