KHULNA, Feb 21, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) arrested an active member of the notorious Karim Sharif gang along with arms and ammunition from the Sundarbans on Friday afternoon.

Lieutenant Commander Siam-Ul-Haq, Media Officer of the Coast Guard, confirmed the information this morning, said a BCG press release.

Acting on secret intelligence that gang members were stationed near MurtiKhal and ToiyaberKhal, close to the Shyala River in the Sundarbans, Coast Guard Base Mongla and Outpost Nalian launched a special operation around 4:00 pm on February 20.

During the raid, one active gang member was arrested and arms were seized, including four single-barreled guns, a one-shot gun, 10 live shells, 17 live cartridges, and 10 blank cartridges.

The arrested person was identified as Badsha Sheikh, 25, a resident of Rampal upazila under Bagerhat district.

During preliminary interrogation, he confessed that he had long been involved with the Karim Sharif gang, assisting in robbery activities and supplying arms, ammunition and logistics to the group.

Legal procedures against the arrested person are now underway, the release said.

The Coast Guard noted that some criminal groups tried to take advantage of its deployment for the 13th National Parliamentary Election to resume illegal activities in the Sundarbans. However, the Coast Guard has intensified operations to keep the forest free of pirates.

As part of the crackdown, five gang hideouts in the Sundarbans were destroyed. The Coast Guard emphasized that operations will continue to eliminate pirate activities from the area.