Piracy on rise on Brahmaputra

Besides, at least ten incidents of robbery took place in the shoal areas in one month. Armed miscreants coming in engine boats took away cattle, crops and other belongings from people.

On September 6, pirates took away a boat loaded with betel nuts from near Kamarjani, beating traders on board. This was the third such incident in three days in the same area, traders and local people said.

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Armed pirates snatched about Tk three lakh in cash and valuables from passengers on a boat at Chowmohon in Fulchari upazila on August 17, injuring six persons.

Two incidents of piracy took place on the mid-stream of Brahmaputra at Pirbor in Rajibpur upazila in Kurigramm district on August 9. The pirates looted jute worth over Tk two lakh, beating five traders on board.

On June 14, pirates looted two motor cycles, cash and valuables worth about Tk six lakh from two merchant boats at Barobore in Moller Char in Gaibandha. Seven persons were injured by pirates.

Two days earlier, pirates looted Tk three lakh goods from a merchant boat on its way to Gaibandha from Kattimari.

Piracy and dacoity are going on unabated lthough there are three river police outposts at Dushmari in Kurigram, Kamarjani in Gaibandha Sadar and Balashi in Fulchari upazila.

Police say they can not nab the pirates because they do not have speedboats and other logistics.

But Chairman of Mohonganj Union Parishad, Abdullah Al Mahmud, said such incidents are taking place due to inaction by police in the Brahmaputra basin areas.