The Bangladesh Coast Guard and local police arrested seven pirates equipped with domestic weapons in Sandwip upazilla of Chattogram in a successful joint operation. Authorities also seized a fishing boat used in the robbery, along with a massive cache of plundered goods estimated to be worth approximately Tk 47.62 lakh.
According to Coast Guard sources, the operation was initiated after a fishing boat fell victim to a pirate attack in the coastal waters of Sandwip last Thursday afternoon. The victims promptly reported the incident by calling the emergency hotline number 16111, prompting the Coast Guard to immediately intensify intelligence surveillance and patrolling across the affected maritime area.
As part of these heightened security measures, a coordinated joint operation was conducted by the Sandwip Police and the Coast Guard Outpost Sarikait on Monday, lasting from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM. During the drive near the Chowdhury Bazar Ghat area under Sandwip Police Station, law enforcement officials intercepted the suspected fishing boat and apprehended the seven pirates.
During primary interrogation, the detainees confessed to their direct involvement in the July 9 robbery. Following their arrest, a thorough search of the seized vessel yielded approximately 95,000 meters of stolen fishing nets, 110 liters of diesel, and five mobile phones, alongside various domestic weapons used during the heist.
Lieutenant Commander Suman Al Mukit, Media Officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard East Zone, confirmed that legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are currently underway. He added that the Coast Guard will continue to conduct similar operations in the future to maintain law and order across the country’s maritime territories.
