14 fishers rescued after trawler sinks in Bay

AMTALI, BARGUNA, Sept 12: A fishing trawler carrying 14 fishermen sank in the Bay of Bengal while returning to the coast amid rough weather in the Dubla Char area off Barguna's Taltali Upazila on Thursday evening.

All 14 fishermen were rescued alive with the help of another fishing trawler. However, the sunken trawler, FB Mayer Doya, could not be located.

The incident occurred around 6:30pm, about 15 kilometres south-southwest of the Fakirghat Fish Landing Centre.

Of the rescued fishermen, 13 are from Taltali Upazila and one is from Satkhira district, said Taltali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Atish Sarker.

According to locals, the trawler, owned by Jafar Mia of Nidra area, had left for the sea on Wednesday with 14 fishermen to catch fish.

As weather conditions deteriorated on Thursday, the fishermen began returning to the coast. At one point, the trawler capsized and sank in heavy waves about 15 kilometres southwest of the Fakirghat Fish Landing Centre.

After receiving the news, fishermen at the landing centre and local fishing trawlers launched a rescue operation.

Around 10:00pm, all 14 fishermen were rescued from the sea by a trawler operated by Selim Majhi. They were found floating in the water and were brought aboard the rescue trawler. They later returned safely to their respective homes.

Md Mojibor Farazi, President of the Fishermen's Trawler Owners' Association at Fakirghat Fish Landing Centre, said the trawler sank while returning to the landing centre due to the rough sea.

“We immediately sent fishing trawlers from the landing centre after receiving the news and rescued all of them. They have returned home and are all safe,” he said.

UNO Atish Sarker said there were no casualties in the incident.

“All the fishermen are safe and have returned to the coast. The upazila administration will provide them with dry food and rice as assistance,” he said.