Fishing trawler capsizes near Chattogram port

The crew of a lighter vessel rescued 18 fishermen from a sinking fishing trawler at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port yesterday.

Fishing trawler Mayer Doa-1, which engaged in fishing at the C-Anchorage area in the bay, started sinking around 10:30am as water entered through a crack that developed in its hull due to heavy rolling in the bay, said Nabi Alam, general secretary of Bangladesh Lighterage Workers Union.

Crew members of a nearby lighter vessel, Akiz Logistics-6, noticed the ill-fated fishermen waving red cloths seeking help and rushed there to rescue all 18 fishermen, he informed.

Contacted, Md Wahid Uz Zaman, master of the lighter vessel, said they were on way to the outer anchorage for transferring cement clinker from a mother vessel and suddenly noticed crew members from the trawler waving the red cloths.

As they approached the trawler they noticed it was sinking and immediately helped the crew of Mayer Doa-1 on board their vessel, Zaman said.

He added that they later brought them to a nearby coast at Patenga and gave the 18 fishermen food while they waited for another trawler to come from Ramgati to take them.