The Bangladesh Coast Guard has apprehended Masum Mridha, 23, identified as the mastermind behind the recent tourist kidnapping in the Sundarbans. He was arrested on the night of Wednesday, 7 January, in the Dhankhali area near the mangrove forest.
According to information provided by Masum, Coast Guard personnel conducted a search operation near Gazi Fisheries within the Sundarbans, recovering a significant cache of weapons, tools, and other equipment used in criminal activities. Among the seized items were firearms, edged weapons, and items linked to drug use, as well as personal effects belonging to the kidnapped tourists.
The recovered items are summarised in the following table:
| Item Description | Quantity/Details |
|---|---|
| Local one-shot pipe guns | 3 |
| Live cartridges | 8 rounds |
| Spent cartridges | 4 rounds |
| Chinese machete | 1 |
| Local machetes | 2 |
| Large knife (Da) | 1 |
| Steel pipe | 1 |
| Drug-use paraphernalia | Various |
| Mobile phones (tourists’) | 5 |
| Wristwatch (tourist’s) | 1 |
Lieutenant Commander Abrar Hasan, Operations Officer of the Coast Guard’s Western Zone, stated that legal proceedings are underway in relation to both the arrest and the confiscated items. He emphasised the critical role of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, in maintaining Bangladesh’s ecological balance, mitigating climate change impacts, supporting coastal livelihoods, and promoting tourism. He also noted that the forest serves as a natural barrier against floods and cyclones.
The operation follows an incident on 2 January, when Masum’s gang kidnapped two tourists and the owner of Golkanan Resort while they were travelling by wooden boat near Kanur Khal. The resort authorities alerted the Coast Guard, which mounted a joint rescue operation. Employing drone surveillance, intelligence gathering, and financial tracing, the Coast Guard successfully rescued the hostages within 48 hours.
Additional gang members arrested from Sundarbans, Dakop, and Khulna areas include Kuddus Hawladar (43), Salam Box (24), Mehedi Hasan (19), Alam Matbor (38), Ayon Kundu (30), Ifaz Fakir (25), Zainabi Bibi (55), and Mosha Dridha (55). They have been handed over to Dakop police.
Over the past year, the Coast Guard has conducted anti-piracy and anti-robbery operations in the Sundarbans, seizing 38 firearms, 2 grenades, 74 local weapons, extensive weapon-making equipment, 448 rounds of ammunition, and rescuing 52 hostages. A total of 49 active gang members have been apprehended and transferred to police custody.
Sustained Coast Guard efforts have neutralised the gangs led by Achabur, Hannan, Anarul, Manju, and Ranga. Meanwhile, smaller gangs such as Chhoto Suman, Chhoton, and Kajol Munna are increasingly constrained. Ongoing surveillance continues to target active groups led by Karim Sharif, Jahangir, and Dayal, with intensified patrols and intelligence monitoring ensuring regional security.