16 fishers rescued, 2 missing after capsize of two trawlers in Bay 

 
TALTALI, BARGUNA, July 8: Sixteen fishermen were rescued alive while two remain missing after two fishing trawlers capsized in rough seas in the Bay of Bengal off Fakirhat in Barguna's Taltali Upazila on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred around 8:00pm, about 40 kilometres south of the coast, as the vessels were caught in turbulent weather and high waves.
According to local sources, 18 fishermen had left the Fakirhat Fish Landing Centre in two trawlers on Tuesday morning to catch hilsa in the deep sea. The vessels were owned by Tapan Jomaddar and Alamgir Khalifa.

As weather conditions deteriorated later in the evening, the sea became increasingly rough. Alamgir Khalifa's trawler was the first to sink after being hit by powerful waves. The fishermen aboard managed to take shelter on Tapan Jomaddar's trawler, but it too capsized shortly afterwards under the force of the high waves, throwing all 18 fishermen into the sea.

After drifting in the water for several hours, 16 of them were rescued by another fishing trawler at around 3:00am on Wednesday. They were later admitted to Mahipur Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

The rescued fishermen are all residents of Sonakata Union in Taltali upazila.
Two fishermen�"Kalam Paikar and Shahid, also from Sonakata Union�"remain missing. Their families are anxiously awaiting news of their whereabouts.
Ashraful Alam, Contingent Commander of the Taltali Coast Guard Station, said rescue operations could not begin immediately because the sea remained extremely rough.

"We will launch the rescue operation as soon as weather conditions improve," he said.
Taltali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Zahidul Islam said the Coast Guard and river police were instructed to take necessary action immediately after the administration was informed of the incident.