Pirates kidnap 51fishermen
Also loot 20 trawlers in Barguna
Pirates on Monday night kidnapped 51 fishermen and looted 20 fishing trawlers at Boya point, about 35 km south of Pathorghata upazila town of Barguna.
Two pirate gangs led by Gama and Maijja of Sundarbans area jointly kidnapped the fishermen and looted their trawlers, said Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna district fishing trawlers association.
Golam Mostafa said, 25/30 pirates on two trawlers all of a sudden attacked the fishing trawlers in the Bay from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. They swooped on 20 trawlers and kidnapped over 50 fishermen. The pirates also looted fishes, fuel, cash worth over Tk 20 lakh from the trawlers, he said.
Fourteen fishermen who were able to save themselves from the onslaught, returned to Pathorghata upazila headquarters in the morning. They narrated the story to the leaders of fishing trawlers association and Pathorghata police.
Of the kidnapped fishermen, 19 each belonged to FB Tariqul owned by Sogir Hossain and FB Tanmoy owned by Alam Mia, 4 each of FB Mohsin owned by Alam Mollah and FB Maa owned by Jasim Uddin, 3 of FB Iqra owned by Sogir Hossain, one each of FB Tauba and FB Tanisha.
Abdul Quader, a fisherman of FB Maa who reached Pathorghata in the morning told local journalists that the pirates steered towards Sundarbans with all the kidnapped fishermen. During the raid the gang said that they will communicate over cell phone later, he added.
Contacted, Lt Harun-or-Rashid, contingent commander of the Coastguard said that the president of fish labourers association in Pathorghata told him all about kidnapping and looting by the pirates gangs.
"We are preparing for the necessary steps to free the fishermen as soon as possible", he added.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments