The Bangladesh Navy has rescued 16 fishermen and their fishing boat after it drifted at sea for three days following an engine failure in the Bay of Bengal.
The boat, FB Al-Amin, was rescued by Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Kopotakkho amid rough seas and adverse weather conditions. The fishermen and the boat were later taken safely to Hiron Point, near the Sundarbans, and handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The ISPR disclosed the information in a press release on Monday.
The Bangladesh Navy regularly conducts patrols in maritime and coastal areas to ensure the security of the country’s maritime boundaries and maintain good governance at sea. As part of a routine patrol in the Bay of Bengal on Monday, BNS Kopotakkho spotted the drifting FB Al-Amin with 16 fishermen near the Mongla Fairway Buoy.
According to Navy sources, BNS Kopotakkho received information on Sunday night that a fishing boat had become stranded at sea after its engine broke down. The vessel immediately launched a rescue operation.
The following morning, despite strong waves and adverse weather, the Navy vessel located the boat near the Mongla Fairway and rescued all 16 fishermen. During the operation, Navy personnel provided them with food, drinking water and first aid.
The fishermen said they had set out from the Sharankhola area of Bagerhat on August 19 aboard FB Al-Amin to catch fish. Two days after entering the sea, the boat’s engine broke down, leaving them stranded and drifting at sea for three consecutive days.
Later, despite the rough sea and unfavourable weather, the Navy vessel towed the boat to Hiron Point near the Sundarbans. The boat and all 16 fishermen were subsequently handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The Bangladesh Navy’s prompt rescue of the fishermen and the disabled vessel highlights its role in assisting those in distress at sea.