Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Sept 2, 2026 (BSS) - The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will launch a special nationwide operation to recover firearms looted from police and other law-enforcement agencies during the 2024 mass movement.

“RAB has already been given special responsibility for recovering the looted firearms, and the operation has already begun,” said RAB Director General (DG) Md Ahsan Habib Palash at a press briefing at the RAB-6 headquarters here this morning.

The briefing was organised on the occasion of the surrender of 59 forest robbers in the Sundarbans, recovery of firearms and the overall law-and-order situation in Khulna and elsewhere in the country.

The RAB DG said those providing information about the looted firearms would be rewarded and their identities would be kept confidential.

Replying to a question, he said there was a possibility that some of the surrendered Sundarbans robbers might return to their previous criminal activities.

Of the 328 robbers who surrendered between 2016 and 2020, 30 had subsequently returned to criminal activities, he said, adding that eight of them were present at the latest surrender programme.

The government is now taking more effective measures than before to rehabilitate those who have surrendered or will surrender in the future, he said, adding that discussions have already been held with different ministries and agencies in this regard.

He said restoring peace in the Sundarbans was their main objective.

“We are keeping track of terrorists and criminals. None of those who finance or shelter criminals will be spared,” he said.

Regarding the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Khulna, the RAB DG said the authorities were working to improve the situation.

“We have already received special instructions from the government regarding improving the law-and-order situation in Khulna. Work is underway,” he said.

He said 59 firearms, 541 rounds of live ammunition, 14 empty cartridges and seven walkie-talkies were recovered.

Of the 59 robbers who surrendered, 16 belonged to the Bor Jahangir Bahini, 13 to Anrul Bahini, 15 to Afzal alias Dulabhai Bahini, eight to Aftar Bahini and seven to Mizan Bahini, the RAB DG said.

RAB has recovered the large quantity of firearms and ammunition through operations in different parts of the Sundarbans.

The firearms comprise four shotguns, 47 one-shooter guns, four pipe guns, three air guns and one .22-bore rifle.

RAB said a special operation titled “Operation Restart, Peace in Sundarbans” is being conducted jointly by RAB, the Coast Guard, local administration, naval police and the Forest Department to curb piracy and robbery in the Sundarbans.

The operation has been conducted continuously since March 2 this year.

The RAB DG said four to five robber groups are currently active in the Sundarbans and efforts are underway to bring their members back to normal life by abandoning criminal activities.

“We cannot bring back 100 percent of them as we cannot monitor them round the clock. There are also some practical limitations,” he said.

He added that RAB's intelligence surveillance was continuing to monitor whether anyone was returning to criminal activities after surrendering.

The RAB DG also stressed the need to establish a RAB battalion in the Sundarbans to strengthen security in the area.