Maj Ziauddin shot by pirates

Retired Major Ziauddin Ahmed, a Sub-Sector Commander during the Liberation War, was injured in a gun battle with pirates in the Sundarbans on Friday.

His brother Kamaluddin Ahmed said at least three members of a pirate gang led by ‘Mortuza’ were killed during the encounter at Charputia under the Forest Department’s Chandpai range.

Forest Department officials confirmed the gunfight, but could not say whether there were any casualties.

Ziauddin, the Sub-Sector Commander of the Sector 9 during the War, is currently the Chairman of Dubla Fisherman Group.

Kamaluddin, also the General Secretary of the Group, said preparations were going on for taking Ziauddin to Square Hospital in the capital.

He said the encounter took place around 10am when Dubla Fisherman Group members were going to Alorkul in their own cargo vessel. “Ten to twelve armed members of the Mortuza-led pirate gang opened fire on us as we reached Charputia. We fired back from our licenced guns.”

Ziauddin received a stray bullet above his left eye, he said.

Sundarbans East Zone’s Divisional Forest Officer Hossain Chowdhury said they heard about the gun-battle.