Khulna: At least 17 suspected forest robbers were killed in reported gunfights with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in the Sundarbans part of Khulna while 60 surrendered this year, according to RAB.

It said two suspected pirates of ‘Shamsu Bahini’ were killed in a ‘gunfight with RAB 8 recently.

On 27 November, six forest robber gangs, namely ‘Master Bahini’, ‘Majnu Bahini’, ‘Ilias Bahini’, ‘Sagor Bahini’ and ‘Alam Shanto Bahini’ surrendered to the elite force.

However, pirates still prowl in remote reaches of the Sundarbans and are trying to form new small gangs of around 7 members for the upcoming ‘Golpata’ (nipa palm leaves) collecting season.

A special taskforce, led by RAB, has been working in the Sundarbans West Zone to curb pirate activities. The tasks include creating a database of arrested pirates and forest robbers.

Additional deputy inspector general of RAB Khondokar Rafikul Islam, also the commander of RAB-6, said the database has not yet been completed, though RAB has a list of the forest robbers.