Twenty Bangladeshi robbers' groups have been dominating the large areas of the Bay of Bengal for a long.  These groups are controlling fishing looting from the trawlers and collecting extortion. They are also engaged in forced disappearance and killing. So-called 70 boro bhai (Patronizers of crimes) are giving shelter to these robber groups. Four groups get the portion of looting belongings. Godfathers target unemployed youths and the accused in many cases. They also file false cases against the youths to make them fugitive. At one stage, these youths are bound to join the robber groups. Sources concerned revealed the information to the media.      

It is known that 10 robber groups in the Bay of Bengal are considered redoubtable. These groups are – Ishak Member Bahini, Nurul Absar Badu Bahini, Jalal Bahini, Ansarul Islam Tipu Bahini, Ansar Bahini, Idris Bahini, Jobbar Bahini, Tarek Bahini, Islam Majhi Bahini, and Shahadat Member Bahini.

Wishing anonymity, an official of a law enforcement agency said the sea won’t be controlled until the godfathers are eliminated. That’s why godfathers will have to be arrested as soon as possible.

According to the sources, 20 politicians, 30 stockists, fishing and salt traders and owners of trawlers and 20 public representatives are the boro bhai of the sea robbers. Upazila chairmen, union chairmen and union parishad members are included in the patronizers list.

Every robber group has 15-25 members. They go to the sea for 5-10 days. Three separate groups invest in these robbers groups. One group provides fuel oil, another provides arms and the third group provides boats and food. After committing robbery, looting fish and other belongings are divided into four portions. Mafias, who give shelter to the robbers, get 40 per cent, fuel oil and arms providers get 15 per cent respectively and members of the robber gang get the rest 30 per cent. Godfathers and robber gang chiefs target unemployed youths in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Kutubdia, Moheskhali, Pekua and Banshkhali upazilas. At first, they provide financial assistance to the targeted youths. Later, the youths become weak to their financial helpers and at one stage they go to the sea to commit ship robbery.

On condition not to be named, a sea robber said mafias follow merciless methods to bring youths to their groups. They lodge fitting cases one after another against the targeted person in liaison with the police station. At one stage, the targeted person becomes a fugitive and he is sent to the sea for committing trawler robbery to avoid arrest.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on July 5, 2024 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.