Sonadia, Moheshkhali Channels
Pirates loot Tk 1cr goods from 14 trawlers in 5 days
Pirates attacked at least at least 14 trawlers in Sonadia and Moheshkhali channels and looted fishes and fishing nets worth Tk 1 crore in the last five days.
Fishermen in the area said that pirates swooped on them while they were returning through the two channels with trawlers full of fishes.
Mujibur Rahman, president of Cox's Bazar Fishing Boat Owners Association said that incidents of piracy have recently increased to an alarming level in the area.
"Fishermen cannot return to the shore safely with their fishes and trawlers. The pirates are attacking them in the deep sea and looting their every thing", he said.
In the last five days, the pirate gangs have looted at least 14 trawlers and beat up more than 60 fishermen while they were returning to the shore, Mujibur added.
Several trawler owners yesterday painted a grim picture how they were looted in mid-sea by the armed pirates.
Trawler owner Abul Kashem said the fishermen could not resist the attacks as pirates carry illegal arms and lethal weapons. Most of the pirates seem to be Myanmar nationals, he said.
Vice president of the boat owners association said over 80 thousand fishermen of about six thousand trawlers are now suffering from insecurity.
They cannot go to mid-sea for fishing for fear of life during the hilsa season, he said.
Ranjit Barua, officer-in-charge of Teknaff police station said although they lack vessels to conduct drives on water, but they are raiding different areas in the shore to arrest the pirates.
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