Bangla | Epaper

BANGLA EPAPER 📍 Dhaka 📅 Saturday | 18 July 2026, 3 Srabon 1433

HEADLINE

● Opposition party misleading people over July Charter: Mirza Fakhrul ● Rain Disrupts Supply, Vegetable Prices Soar ● Protesting HSC students postpone street program over public suffering ● Govt polls schedule likely by Sept-Oct: Home Minister ● Chargesheets to be filed only against those found guilty: DB chief ● Ziaur Rahman assassination: Fugitive Maj Mozaffar arrested in Dhaka after 45yrs ● 383 journos faced harassment, attacks in six months: HRSS

Hundreds of fishing boats take shelter as low pressure batters Bay of Bengal

Published : Friday, 17 July, 2026 at 9:08 PM

Observer Online Report

Hundreds of fishing boats have taken shelter in the Sundarbans and along the coastal belt after a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal triggered rough seas and adverse weather, forcing fishermen to suspend fishing operations for the past three days.

The low-pressure system has generated high waves, strong easterly winds, and intermittent light to moderate rainfall, making the sea unsafe for fishing. In response, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued Local Warning Signal No. 3 for the country's four seaports.

Fishermen sheltering in the Meher Ali Canal of Dublar Char and the Bhedakhali Canal in the Sundarbans said they had been unable to venture into the sea since the weather deteriorated.

"We are facing rough seas with huge waves and strong easterly winds. It is too risky to continue fishing, so we have taken shelter in canals such as Meher Ali, Alorkol, Bhedakhali, Narikelbaria, and Kochikhali. Many fishing boats have also returned to coastal landing stations," said Mosharef Hossain, skipper of the fishing boat *FB Sakhina*.

Another fisherman, Nazrul Islam from Baga, said they had returned to shore due to the dangerous sea conditions and would resume fishing once the weather improves.

Mohammad Abul Hossain, president of the Shoronkhola Fishing Trawler Owners' Association, said hundreds of fishing boats are currently anchored at Paderhat, Rayenda, Mohipur, Nidraskhina, Patharghata, and various canals inside the Sundarbans.

He noted that fishermen have now faced adverse weather three times within a month since the end of the government's 58-day fishing ban, causing significant financial losses for both fishermen and trawler owners.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Forest Division, Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, said forest officials have intensified monitoring to ensure the safety of fishing boats taking refuge inside the mangrove forest and are providing necessary assistance to fishermen.

Although fishermen returned to the sea after the nationwide 58-day fishing ban was lifted, repeated spells of rough weather have disrupted operations, creating uncertainty over earnings at the very beginning of the hilsa fishing season.

-HIS

Also read

Dinajpur man kills son over argument

Panic at Cox's Bazar beach as brief tornado strikes Sugandha Point

20 houses washed away as Teesta erosion takes severe turn in Kurigram

Farmers exceed set ginger farming target in Rangpur region

Hill Tracts State Minister stands by Rowangchhari flood victims

Kulaura police arrest 7 in separate raids, 4 online gamblers held

One killed, another injured in Bus-CNG collision in Dinajpur

Wildlife thrives as Sundarbans falls silent

Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], ‍[email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296

🔝