40 kidnapped fishermen rescued, 15 held

Bangladesh Coast Guard on Thursday night rescued 40 fishermen from a den of sea robbers in Char Gangni of Hatia upazila in Noakhali.

They also arrested 15 members of the robbery gang, including its leader Saiful, 38, who kidnapped the fishermen during the last couple of days, said coastguard officials.

During the drive in Char Gangni, an island, from morning to 11:00pm, three trawlers, 14 bullets and six machetes were also seized from the robbers, said Lt Mohammad Borhan Uddin, commander of Hatia coast guard station.

The gang confined the fishermen to the den for ransom, he said.