Princh Mondal Olif, Bagerhat District Correspondent

A total of 27 forest robbers, including the leader of the notorious Chhoto Jahangir Gang, Jahangir Sheikh, have surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the Sundarbans. They also handed over a large number of firearms and ammunition.

The surrender took place on Monday afternoon in the Charputia Khal area of the Sundarbans under Mongla upazila in Bagerhat. On Tuesday morning, Coast Guard West Zone Commander Captain Mohammad Mesbaul Islam confirmed the information at a press briefing held at the Coast Guard headquarters in Mongla.

According to the Coast Guard, the government has launched two special operations—"Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans" and "Operation Mangrove Shield"—to eliminate forest robbers and ensure security in the Sundarbans.

The Coast Guard said that 45 forest robbers have been arrested so far during these operations. They have also rescued 42 fishermen and forest workers who had been held hostage by the robbers and safely returned them to their families after treatment.

Officials said continuous operations have weakened the activities of criminal groups in the Sundarbans. Earlier, seven members of the Chhoto Suman Gang and three members of the Boro Jahangir Gang had also surrendered. This time, the Chhoto Jahangir Gang leader and 26 other members decided to surrender.

During the surrender, the group handed over three foreign-made guns, one eight-shooter, one four-shooter, five locally made single-barrel guns, 15 pipe guns, two Chinese-made pipe guns, 340 rounds of live ammunition and 55 rounds of blank cartridges.

The Coast Guard said the surrendered robbers had long been involved in robbery, kidnapping fishermen and forest workers for ransom, and other criminal activities in the Sundarbans.

Legal procedures against the surrendered men are now underway. The government will also consider their rehabilitation according to its policy. The Coast Guard has urged other forest robbers to surrender and return to normal life, warning that strict legal action will continue against those who remain involved in criminal activities under the government's zero-tolerance policy.