18 more bodies found in Bay

A Navy ship remains anchored at Kutubdia coast area as rescuers recover bodies of two fishermen killed by pirates Tuesday. Bodies of 20 fishermen have been found so far. Photo: Inter-Services Public Relations.

Eighteen more bodies out of 36 fishermen, who went missing in the Bay of Bengal a week ago, were recovered on Tuesday.

Navy and coast guard personnel in a joint operation retrieved the bodies four kilometres off Kutubdia light house early in the afternoon, Lt Commander Masudul Islam of Coast Guard told The Daily Star.

The official said the bodies could not be identified instantly as the remains decomposed beyond recognition, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

Earlier on Monday, three bodies of the missing fishermen were recovered.

Local fishermen Ekram Miah and Bazal Ahmed said they spotted the bodies of some 20 fishermen at Jahajfari of Kutubdia Channel in the afternoon while returning from the sea after catching fish, and informed their fellows about it.

Later, the fishermen returned to the spot with a trawler and recovered the three bodies. The hands and legs of the victims were tied.

On March 20, a group of fishermen went to the deep sea in three trawlers. Six days later, a gang of 20-25 armed pirates swooped on the trawlers on the mouth of Jahajfari when they were returning home after catching fish.

The robbers looted cash, fish, nets and other valuables and kidnapped 36 fishermen along with two trawlers.