Fifty-two members of four pirate gangs in the Sundarbans surrendered to the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday, a day before the forest reopened after a three-month closure.

According to a Rab-6 press release, 16 members of the Boro Jahangir gang, 13 of the Anarul gang, 15 of the Afzal alias Dulabhai gang, and eight of the Aftab gang surrendered.

The surrender followed stepped-up intelligence surveillance and operations by Rab-6 and other law enforcement agencies amid recent intelligence reports of new pirate groups and the involvement of some former gang members in criminal activities. Abductions of fishermen and other forest-dependent people, ransom demands and other crimes had also come to light, Rab said.

Thousands of fishermen, bawalis and mouals depend on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods. Pirates and forest robbers have long threatened them through abductions, ransom demands and other crimes.

A significant number of members of pirate and forest robber gangs had previously surrendered following sustained law enforcement operations and government rehabilitation initiatives.

Rab said the adverse environment of the forest, uncertainty associated with a life of crime and continued operations prompted the 52 gang members to abandon criminal activities and return to normal life.

Rab-6 said legal action would be taken against the surrendered individuals under existing laws and they would be produced before the appropriate court in due course.

The Sundarbans remained closed to tourists and forest-dependent people from June 1 to August 31 to ensure uninterrupted breeding and movement of wildlife and conserve biodiversity. It reopened today subject to applicable rules and permits.

Rab said intelligence surveillance and operations would continue to prevent piracy, abduction, ransom collection and other organised crime in the forest.