Twelve pirates including the Noa Force chief of the Sundarbans formally surrendered to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal deposting their arms and ammunition at Rakhain Market ground in Kuakata at about 1:00pm on Saturday.

Patuakhali: Twelve pirates including the Noa Force chief of the Sundarbans have surrendered.

They formally surrendered to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal deposting their arms and ammunition at Rakhain Market ground in Kuakata at about 1:00pm on Saturday.

Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) director general Benazir Ahmed, RAB-8 commander Lt Col Anwar-uz-Zaman and senior officials of law enforcing agencies were present.

The surrendered pirates were Noa Bahini chief Baqi Billah Mia, 37, Monirul Sheikh, 38, Manzur Molla alias Ranga, 42, Mukta Sheikh, 37, Tariqul Sheikh, 60, Akbar Sheikh, 42, Kibria Morol, 40, Jahangir Sheikh, 48, Al Amin Sikder, 50, Yunus Sheikh alias Dulal Thakur, 40, Miladul Molla alias Kalu Dakat, 28 and Mosharraf Hossain, 37.

All the pirates hailed from different places of Mongla and Rampal in Bagerhat district.

During their surrender, the pirates deposited seven foreign-made one barrel guns, eight foreign-made double-barrel guns, two foreign-made air rifles, three one shooter guns, a rifle, a foreign-made rifle, three foreign-made cut-rifles and 1,105 rounds of live bullets and cartridges.