United News of Bangladesh

At least 51 fishermen were injured in an attack by pirates in the Bay of Bengal while fishing on Wednesday night. The injured fishermen managed to return to shore at Patharghata around 8pm on Thursday; 25 hours after the attack as the pirates incapacited the trawlers to delay their return, said Golam Mostafa Chowdhy, president of trawlers Owners’ Association of Patharghata in the district. He said the armed attacks by the pirates left at least 51 fishermen injured with one of them with gun shot. The victims said five fishing trawlers namely FB Tufan-2, FB Madina-1, FB Ma-1, and FB Tarek-1 were fishing near the area between Dhal Char and Hatiya in the Bay when a group of 25-30 masked and armed pirates attacked them. The pirates held the fishermen at gunpoint and looted fish, money in cash and mobile phones worth Tk 2 crore, they alleged. 6 women among 33 fishers rescued from pirates’ den in Sundarbans When the fishermen tried to resist, the pirates beat them and one of them, identified as Belal, was shot with a shotgun, the fishers said. Despite damages, the injured trawlers reached Patharghata on Thursday night. They were taken to Patharghata Upazila Health Complex. The bullet-hit Belal was shifted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital for better treatment. The identities of the pirates remain unknown. 50 pirates surrender with firearms in Ctg Mohammad Roknuzzaman Khan, UNO) of Patharghata, said they were aware of the robbery in the Bay. He said arrangements were made for the treatment of the injured fishermen and efforts were on to identify the pirates.