‘Mintu Bahini’ chief held with weapons in hill operation
Photo: Agamir Somoy
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has recovered a large cache of weapons, ammunition and firearm-making equipment during an operation in the remote hills of Hwanak in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar. During the operation, Imam Hossain Mintu (38), the alleged chief of the so-called ‘Mintu Bahini,’ was arrested.
According to the Coast Guard, Mintu had long been creating panic in the area by manufacturing and supplying illegal weapons, engaging in piracy, robbery and carrying out various terrorist activities.
The information was disclosed in a press release issued Friday afternoon by Coast Guard Media Officer Lt. Cmdr. Sabbir Alam Sujon.
According to the Coast Guard, intelligence information indicated that an armed group had been secretly manufacturing firearms in the remote hills adjacent to Keruntali in Hwanak Union of Maheshkhali. The weapons were allegedly being supplied to different parts of the country. The group was also involved in the illegal sale of firearms, piracy, robbery and attacks on tourists, among other terrorist activities.
Based on the information, a joint operation was launched at around 6 am Friday. Personnel from the Coast Guard stations of Shah Porir Dwip, Teknaf, Baharchhara, Inani, Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali took part in the operation. During a search of the alleged Mintu Bahini hideout, authorities recovered five locally made single-barrel guns, nine locally made pistols, one foreign-made pistol magazine, 20 rounds of live ammunition, 12 rounds of live cartridges, four blank cartridges, one locally made weapon, three liters of locally made liquor and various equipment used to manufacture firearms. Imam Hossain Mintu, the group’s alleged chief, was also arrested.
The Coast Guard said Mintu, a resident of Hwanak in Maheshkhali, has 15 criminal cases filed against him. He had long been leading illegal arms trading, piracy and various terrorist activities. The weapons used by him had left fishermen and salt farmers in Maheshkhali and the eastern coastal region feeling insecure for a long time.
Lt. Cmdr. Sabbir Alam Sujon, media officer at Coast Guard Headquarters, said, “Intelligence surveillance and patrols have been further strengthened to arrest other members of Mintu Bahini. The process of taking legal action against the detained individual and over the seized evidence is underway.”
