Pirates kill fisherman, loot 3 trawlers in Bay

Armed pirates shot one fisherman dead and injured 10 others on Friday when they looted three fishing trawlers in deep sea in the Bay of Bengal, about 70 kilometres from Patharghata cost.

The injured crew rescued by other fishing boats were brought to patharghata cost. They are now being treated at Patharghata hospital.

According to survivors, the pirates opened fire at FB Mahmuda as its crew ignored the pirates' order to halt. One of its crew-- Abdul Hafiz,44 --died on the spot and fell into the water. His body could not be recovered.

The pirates then went near the trawler, beat 10 others on board indiscriminately and sank the vessel.

The ten fishermen rescued by other fishing trawlers are Dulal,26, Hanif,30,

Faruk,28, Rafiq,22, Alamin,20, Sohrab,28, Zafar,30, Jalil,35, Ismail,32 and Sagir, 20.

The pirates also looted fishing trawlers FB Nizam and FB Zafar as they came to resist the attack. The incidents took place in Sonachara area in the Bay.

The pirates looted Tk. 20 lakhs in cash and goods including engine, net, spares and fuel and left the area.

Abdul Barek Akon, a crew of another trawler FB Mustafa who reached Patharghata coast from near the incident spot on Saturday, told newsmen that he saw tow more bodies floating on the sea.

Golam Mustafa Chowdhury, president of Patharghata Trawler Owners Association said two rescues teams were sent to the spot on Saturday and they are yet to return.

Fishing in the sea with out regular patrol by Navy and Coast Guard is becoming impossible day by day, he added.