Sundarbans Tourist Kidnapper Arrested With Weapons

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested Masum Mridha (23), the alleged mastermind behind a recent tourist abduction in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. The arrest took place on Wednesday night (7 January) in the Dhankhali area, adjacent to the Sundarbans. Authorities recovered multiple weapons, ammunition, and items belonging to the kidnapped tourists following the arrest.

According to Lieutenant Commander Abrar Hasan, Operations Officer of the West Zone Coast Guard, Masum provided intelligence that enabled law enforcement to raid the Gazi Fisheries area of the Sundarbans. During the operation, several weapons, tools, and personal belongings of the hostages were recovered.

Recovered Items from Masum Mridha:

The incident stems from a hostage-taking on 2 January, when Masum and his accomplices captured two tourists and the owner of Golakann Resort near Kanur Khal during a boat tour. They demanded ransom before the Coast Guard launched a coordinated operation involving drone surveillance, financial tracing, and intelligence gathering. Within 48 hours, all hostages were safely rescued.

In addition to Masum, eight other suspects were apprehended from different areas of Sundarbans, Dakop, and Khulna. Their identities are:

• Kuddus Hawlader (43)
• Salam Box (24)
• Mehedi Hasan (19)
• Alam Matbor (38)
• Ayon Kundu (30)
• Ifaz Fakir (25)
• Zaynabi Bibi (55)
• Mosha Dridha (55)

These suspects have been handed over to Dakop Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Over the past year, the Coast Guard has conducted sustained anti-piracy and anti-bandit operations in the Sundarbans, recovering: 38 firearms, 2 hand grenades, 74 indigenous weapons, 448 rounds of ammunition, and rescuing 52 hostages. A total of 49 active bandits have been arrested and transferred to police custody.

The operations have successfully neutralised notorious criminal groups such as Achabur, Hannan, Anarul, Manju, and Ranga, while putting pressure on smaller factions like Chhoto Suman, Chhoton, and Kajol Munna. Current attention is focused on containing active groups led by Karim Sharif, Jahangir, and Dayal, with increased patrolling and intelligence monitoring in the region.

Lieutenant Commander Hasan emphasised that these efforts are vital not only for public safety but also for protecting Sundarbans’ ecological balance, supporting coastal livelihoods, and sustaining the tourism industry, while acting as a natural buffer against cyclones and tidal surges.