Dhaka: At least seventy-nine members of an armed group have surrendered to Bangladesh government on Thursday.

Mro National Party (MNP) members surrendered arms to local administration at Kurukpatajhari of Alikadam in Bandarban.

Former upazila chairman Khamli Mro and District Council member Siyong Mro confirmed that 79 members of Menrum Mro group and Luip Mro group of MNP laid down their arms in a programme.  

State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, Bangladesh Army 24-infantry GOC and Chittagong region area commander Major General Shafiqur Rahman and District Council Chairman Kayshalya, among others, were present at the programme.

A group of Mro people set up an organisation at Alikadam in 2011 with a view to protecting their land from being grabbed by Bengali settlers and outsiders.

The group soon picked up arms and fought against Bengali settlers.

MNP members, however, with in a year started killing, abduction, extortion, illegal arms deal etc. to continue their activities.  

Menrung Mro, founder of MNP, was reportedly shot dead in April 2012 and Second in Command Pale Mro in June 2012 in factional clashes.

At least 25 others were killed in same type of fighting. The group later divided into several smaller factions.

Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh and police conducted several drives to catch the leaders and activists of the group. More than a hundred members of the group were arrested by law enforcers.