A gang of pirates attacked seven fishing trawlers and shot eight fishermen in the Bay of Bengal, 50 kilometres off Sonal Char area under Rangabali Upazila of Patuakhali district, Sunday night.

Md Shakhawat Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) for Pathorghata, said the injured fishermen were taken to Pathorghata Upazila Health Complex around 11:00 am on Monday from where they were sent to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

The fishermen were out in their trawlers as usual when they came under attack around 10:30pm on Sunday, Md Alam Mollah, owner of three of the attacked trawlers, said.

The trawlers were about 50 km south from Sonar Char area, about 160 km south-east from Pathorghata when the first trawler FB Mohsin Aulia-1 was attacked. The fishermen tried to resist the pirates as other trawlers rushed to their rescue after hearing the hue and cry.

Eight men were shot in the struggle that ensued.

Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna District Trawler Owners' Association said the pirates looted hilsha fish, fuel, money and also mobile phones from the fishermen before fleeing.

The injured were identified as Kabir Haolader, Nurul Islam, Saidul Islam, Khokon, Masud, Forkan, Liton and Litu -- all between 30 to 40 years of age. They hailed from different villages under Pathorghata and Barguna sadar upazilas, G M Shah Newaz, OC of Pathorghata Police Station said.

The trawlers which came under attack by pirates were FB Mohsin Aulia-1, FB Mohsin Aulia-2, FB Mohsin Aulia-3, FB Mohsin Aulia-4, FB Shamim, FB Allar Dan and FB Shadhin.

OC Shah Newaz said police would take steps once a case had been filed with the police station.