Outlaws moving to southern districts from SW region

Ringleaders of the outlaws, mostly belonging to Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), have established links with contact groups and agents and recruited new members in the region, according to intelligence sources.

They have chosen the quite riverine region because of its remote char (shoal) lands with no road links, which make law enforcers' operation difficult.

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Although Barisal police is not well aware of their fresh move, sources in intelligence agencies said they have collected important information about their regrouping in the area.

Small groups of outlaws are already active in Banaripara, Babuganj, Gournadi, Uzirpur, Agailjhara, Hizla, Muladi, Atghar Kuriana, Swarupkati and Nzairpur areas of Barisal and in Jhalakati and Pirojpur districts.

They maintain close connection with leaders of both ruling and opposition parties.

In the recent municipal elections, particularly at Banaripara and Gournadi, Sarbaharas worked in favor of ruling party candidates, sources said.

In December last, their program to surrender to the Home Minister at Babuganj did not take place due to absence of local ruling party MPs.

Since December, they are trying to establish new strongholds in the vast area covering 20 districts including Khulna and Barisal divisions and four districts of Dhaka division on the western bank of Padma river, the sources said.

PBCP leaders visited Barisal several times in recent months and established contacts with local Sarbahara groups. They have selected local agents and cadres from groups led by Kamrul and Zia.

Some sources claim that the recent looting incidents at Vandaria, Neamoti Bandar, Vurghata and Shikarpur Bazar done by Sarbaharas were only to test police strength in this region.

But the PBCP has its rivals also in the region. It had sent 'advance teams' at least four times in the last two months. Eight of them were caught and killed by rival groups in Faridpur recently.

After that PBCP went slow for some time and then arranged a meeting with their contact persons at Sakaria village in Solia Bakpur union in Banaripara upazila on May 11.

It also held another secret meeting of 'front line cadres and leaders' at a college in Pirojpur town.

Khora Liton, a notorious PBCP cadre, recently visited Barisal and met some contact persons at a residential hotel in Port Road area in the city.

Plans for coordination among rival groups of local Sarbaharas, safety, and secrecy of party activities were discussed at the day-long meeting.

After the meeting, Ali Hossain, a PBCP hit-man in the south western region, was sent to Barisal to evaluate the situation and party strength set-up. He stayed for four days at the residence of a contact person at Sadar Road in the city.

"He felt satisfied", a PBCP contact person told this correspondent.

"Now the total set up is ready and organised", he said.

Banaripara thana Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam, said, "Some Sarbaharas had gathered at Sakaria village on May 11 but could not hold a meeting due to police surveillance".

But Barisal Police Superintendent Md. Mohsin said they have no information that Sarbaharas are regrouping and gaining strength in the district.