Pirates loot vessels in Noakhali
17 kidnapped in Bagerhat buy freedom
Three lighter vessels were looted by pirates in Noakhali yesterday while 17 kidnapped by another gang in Bagerhat bought freedom on Monday.
The lighter vessels were looted on Chittagong-Chandpur river route in the early hours of yesterday, reports our staff correspondent in Chittagong.
Sources said, MV Al Forkania, MV Halima Sobhan and MV Amazon Lily came under the attack on way to different destinations after loading cement clinker from feeder vessels at outer anchorage of Chittagong port.
Of them, MV Forkania and MV Halima were bound for Meghnaghat in Chandpur and MV Amazon Lily for Narayanganj, said sources at Water Transport Cell (WTC), a Chittagong-based organisation that co-ordinates movement of inland water transports.
Pirates swooped on the vessels after they entered Batir Khal, a canal infamous for such incidents, in Noakhali district, said sources in WTC.
A gang numbering around 30 attacked the vessels separately around 3:00am. They beat up the crew members and masters of the vessels and looted valuables including cash, mobile sets and other belongings.
There were around 40 crew and masters in the three vessels and the attack left 12 of them injured, said the sources.
WTC Executive Director Commodore (retd) Abu Zaher Nizam said, "We frequently receive complaints of piracy at Batir Khal point of Chittagong-Chandpur river route."
"It appears that a well-organised gang based in Noakhali coast is active there. They attack cargo vessels targeting mainly valuables and belongings of the crew," he said.
"We have formed a private security force through raising fund but a small team of 15 can hardly resist the pirates," said the WTC Executive Director.
Meanwhile, 16 fishermen and a member of village police force who were kidnapped by pirates on Sunday evening from Marabogi area near the river Baleshwar, bought their freedom the next day for Tk 10 lakh ransom, reports our staff correspondent in Khulna.
According to police, pirates of notorious 'Rubel Bahini' of the Sundarbans kidnapped at gun point 48 fishermen of 17 fishing boats at 4:30pm on Sunday from Morabogi point under Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district.
The pirates later released 31 and held 17 others hostage to realise ransom.
A prominent businessman loyal to ruling party in Southkhali union under Sharankhola upazila mediated for freedom of the kidnapped fishermen, sources said.
Nine out of 17, who bought freedom, were identified as Malek Mridha, Abdul Huq Jamaddar, Rezaul, Dulal Sarder, Babul Molla, Zakir, Faruk, Sagir and village police Abdus Sattar.
They all hail from Southkhali union under Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district.
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