Robbery in Bay of Bengal, 4 people rescued alive, 5 bodies in the sea

4 out of 9 missing fishermen who were robbed last Friday on the trawler FB Bhai-Bhai on their way to fishing in the Bay of Bengal have been rescued alive. The rescued fishermen said that the bodies of the remaining 5 people were washed into the sea.

Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, President of Barguna District Fishery Trawler Owners Association, confirmed this information at around 11 o'clock on Monday (February 20). Before this, a trawler named FB Ma Mariam rescued them around 1.30 pm on Sunday.

The rescued fishermen are Shafiqul Islam (47), Shafiqul Majhi (47) of Noli Morkhali area of Barguna Sadar, Yasin Jomaddar (40) and Abdul Hai (37) of Chamupara of Taltali upazila.

The names of the dead fishermen were not known till the writing of this report. However, returning fishermen said that others died in front of them.

Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, President of the District Fishery Trawler Owners' Association, said that on Monday (February 20) morning after confirming the rescue of 4 fishermen, they took the Coast Guard from the Bay of Bengal and brought them to the Patharghata Upazila Health Complex. Among them, Abdul Alim has been sent to Barisal Sher Bangla Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment as his condition is critical.

Patharghata Upazila

• Mustafizur Rahman Tuhin, the doctor on duty of Patharghata Upazila Health Complex, said that 4 people have injuries in different parts of their bodies. Among them, a fisherman named Abdul Hai has been referred to Barisal Shebachim Hospital. Patharghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sufal Chandra Goldar said that the matter of rescue of fishermen has been informed to DC sir. Upazila administration is looking into their treatment. Dry food and warm blankets will be provided for them. Coast Guard South Zone Operations Officer M Mehdi Hasan said that operations are underway to rescue the missing fishermen in the Bay of Bengal. Four of them were rescued alive. The operation to rescue others is continuing.

It is to be noted that bandits attacked a trawler in Boya area, west of Payra Port, southeast of the Bay of Bengal, around 2:00 p.m. last Friday. At that time, they detained nine fishermen and looted the cargo of the trawler. Later they were beaten and chopped and floated in the Bay of Bengal.