14 missing during Sidr languish in Orissa jail
Fourteen of the Pathorghata fishermen, who went missing during cyclone Sidr in November 2007, are reportedly staying in Orissa central jail in India.
In this regard, a message from Indian High Commission reached Pathorghata police station on Monday through and the home ministry and office of Barguna superintendent of police.
"We got a list of 14 missing fishermen who are in the central jail in Urisha in India. The jail authority asked us to confirm identities of the people on the list," said Sub Inspector Md Shahidul Islam, second officer of Pathorghata police station.
"After confirming the list we will send our reply to the jail authority through our higher authorities concerned. Indian law enforcement agencies arrested them as they entered India during Sidr," he added.
Over three hundred fishermen from Barguna district have remained missing since cyclone Sidr hit the coastal region on November 15 in 2007.
According to the list sent to Pathorghata police station, the 14 fishermen who are in Indian jail are -- Babul Khan, son of Karim Khan, Delwar and Abbas, sons of Motaleb Mia, Monotosh and Nirmol, sons of Nokul Chandra, Abdur Rahim, son of Sohrab Hossain, Shamsur Rahman, son of Bazlur Rahman, Awal, son of Motaled Mia, Badsha Mia, son of Shamsur Rahman, Bareq Majhi, son of Abdur Rahman, Alomgir Pada, son of Hashem Pada, Ful Mia, son of Syed Ali, all of Lathimara village, and Md Zakir, son of Montaz Uddin, and Aziz Fakir, son of Majid Fakir of Badurtali village under Pathorghata upazila.
"The 14 fishermen went missing with five trawlers after Sidr. Their family members had thought them to be killed during the super cyclone. Now the news from local police station has come as a happy surprise to them," said Sohrab Mia, a member of Pathorghata UP.
"I heard that my sons are alive and they are in Indian jail. I am praying to Allah for their return," said Rahima Begum, mother of Abbas and Delwar.
"My wife is offering puja to local temple so that our sons return to us. We are very happy to hear from police that as our two sons are still alive," Nokul Chandra, father of Monotosh and Nirmal, said.
Families of the 14 fishermen have urged Bangladesh and Indian governments to take necessary steps for their early return.
"According to government record, 349 fishermen in Barguna went missing during Sidr but our record says the number would be over 400. Families of those missing fishermen are yet to get any help from the government. Only local NGO Sankalpa Trust distributed Tk 25,000 to each child of the families of all missing fishermen," said Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna district fishing trawler owners association.
He also urged the government to give financial help to the families of all missing fishermen.
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