18 fishermen abducted, boatman shot

Eighteen fishermen were allegedly abducted while their boatman suffered bullet injury in an attack by sea robbers in Sonar Char area at Rangabali upazila of Patuakhali yesterday.

Bullet-hit Kamal Hossain, 50, boatman of FB Jasim, was admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Ansar Uddin Mollah, president of Alipur Fish Traders' Association, said.

Some 40 fishermen in four trawlers were fishing when the sea robbers, of Swandwip, arrived in another trawler and started looting fish, fuel and money. As fishermen of FB Jashim protested, the gang abducted them after shooting Kamal.

Rangabali police said nobody informed them about the incident.