Pirate gangs prowl Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest

Pirate gangs resurge in Bangladesh's Sundarbans, driven by poverty and debt, striking fear deeper than the forest's tigers. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Pirate gangs prowl Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest

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In the labyrinthine waterways of Bangladesh's Sundarbans mangrove forest, a new terror has emerged that locals say rivals the fear of the region's infamous tigers. Pirate gangs, once thought to have been largely dismantled after mass surrenders a decade ago, have returned with a vengeance, their resurgence fueled by deepening poverty and crushing debt. Those who have crossed their path now speak of them with a dread that surpasses even the primal fear of the forest's apex predators. The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site straddling Bangladesh and India, is the world's largest mangrove forest and a critical habitat for the Bengal tiger. But for the communities living on its fringes, the forest's dense network of rivers and creeks has become a hunting ground for armed bandits who prey on fishermen, honey collectors, and woodcutters. The gangs, often armed with knives and crude firearms, ambush boats, steal catches, and demand ransoms, leaving their victims traumatized and impoverished. The resurgence marks a stark reversal from a decade ago, when hundreds of pirates surrendered to authorities in a widely publicized crackdown. At the time, officials declared the waterways safe, and the region saw a brief period of calm. But the underlying drivers of piracy—chronic poverty, lack of alternative livelihoods, and the heavy debt burdens carried by many rural families—were never addressed. As economic pressures have mounted, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, former pirates have returned to their old ways, and new recruits have joined their ranks. Local fishermen describe a climate of constant vigilance. Many now travel in convoys, armed with sticks and whistles, hoping to deter attacks. Others have abandoned the most dangerous channels altogether, losing their primary source of income. The gangs are said to operate with impunity, exploiting the forest's vast, unpatrolled waterways where law enforcement presence is thin and corruption is rife. Reports of extortion, kidnapping, and murder have risen, though official statistics are scarce due to fear of reprisals. The impact extends beyond immediate violence. The piracy threatens the delicate ecology of the...

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Categoria: cronaca