25 fishermen abducted by pirates rescued
Coastguard security for vessels
Coastguards rescued 25 fishermen from pirates in Narikelbaria and Dumuria canal area under Sharankhola range of the Sundarbans forest division yesterday.
The identities of the fishermen abducted by notorious 'Gama Bahini' could not be known till filing this report. But they hailed from different villages of Rampal upazila in Bagerhat, reports our correspondent.
Lieutenant Md Hasanuzzaman, Staff Officer (Operation) of Coastguard Mongla west zone said their patrol vessel CGS Pabna in a drive rescued 12 fishermen along with a trawler from Dubla area in the morning.
Thirteen fishermen were rescued from Dumuria canal in the afternoon.
They were taken hostage on Wednesday night for ransom, Hasanuzzaman added.
Coastguards will remain vigilant in river routes and Sundarbans from now on with a view to saving ships, barges and coasters from pirate attacks.
The move has been taken in the wake of an armed robbery committed on October 4 in clinker laden Indian ship MV Shohagpur at Talgachia under Sharankhola range of the Sundarbans, reports our staff correspondent in Khulna.
Recent rampant piracies in the Sundarbans, river and sea routes have created panic not only among fishermen but also among crew of sea going vessels of foreign countries.
The decision was taken on Tuesday following an appeal made by the assistant director of Khulna office of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Md. Shahjahan Hossain to coastguards Mongla west zone.
On Tuesday, coastguards estorted 17 barges and coasters to Mongla Port which came from Sylhet carrying different kinds of goods, sources said.
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