Two fishermen missing after trawlers sink in Bay of Bengal amid rough seas
Photo Collected
Two fishing trawlers capsized in the deep Bay of Bengal late Tuesday night after encountering treacherous weather and high seas, leaving two fishermen missing. The incident occurred approximately 40 kilometers south of the Fakirhat coast in the Taltali upazila of Barguna.
While a search and rescue operation is underway, officials confirm that 16 of the 18 crew members involved have been rescued. The missing men have been identified as Kalam Paikar and Shahidul Islam, both residents of the Sonakata union.
বিজ্ঞাপন
According to local authorities and the Fakirhat Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, the two vessels departed the Fakirhat landing center on Tuesday morning to fish for hilsa. As sea conditions deteriorated, one vessel began taking on water, prompting its five-man crew to transfer to a second trawler. Shortly after, the second vessel also succumbed to the turbulent waters. Another fishing boat operating in the vicinity located 16 survivors at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday and transported them to the Mahipur Police Station Health Complex in Patuakhali for emergency medical treatment.
Raju Majhi, a local fisherman who was part of a larger fleet that set out for the coast earlier, described the harrowing conditions, noting that high waves and the effects of a localized low-pressure system made the waters increasingly dangerous. Despite the initial safe return of several other vessels, the two affected boats had ventured further south into the open sea.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Mujibur Rahman Farazi, president of the local trawler owners’ association, stated that his organization is coordinating with administrative officials to sustain the search efforts. However, rescue operations remain stalled due to the ongoing volatility of the Bay of Bengal.
Ashraful Alam, contingent commander of the Taltali Coast Guard station, confirmed that personnel are on standby but have been unable to deploy vessels into the deep sea due to the hazardous conditions. He emphasized that the operation will commence as soon as the weather stabilizes. Taltali Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Zahidul Islam noted that authorities are in constant communication with the Coast Guard and naval police to monitor the situation and oversee the care of the survivors currently recovering at the health complex.
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