At least 14 fishermen came back to shore alive recently while 26 remain missing, 22 days after a trawler capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Ramgati and Kamalnagar upazilas of the district.
The 26 went missing after three trawlers - FB Hannan Sharif-2, Muktar Mala-10 and MV Ma Janani – capsized in the bay, south-west of Cox’s Bazar, on the evening of July 20.
Main Uddin, who returned, said 14 fishermen were headed back to Chittagong on two trawlers FB Hannan Sharif-2 of Mohiuddin Company from Kamalnagar and FB Muktar Mala-10 of Bengal Company from Chittagong.
But the trawlers encountered a storm and sank. Later, two trawlers were able to rescue 11 men but 10 went missing.
Another rescued fisherman, Babul, said another trawler with 18 fishermen on board had also sunk. Only three of the crew had been rescued.
Shah Alam, who returned in critical state, said the missing fishermen from FB Hannan Sharif-2 were Bashir Ahmed, Kamal Uddin, Noman Uddin, Ibrahim Mostari, Alamgir, Jashim Majhi, Ismail and Sahab Uddin.
Main Uddin said Md Hannan, Mofiz Uddin,Mahijal, Amjad Hossen, Idris Miah, Mofiz Uddin, Bashu Majhi, Siraj Uddin, Md Jahangir, Miraj Uddin and Akter Hossen had gone missing from the MV Ma Janani when it capsized.
Babul Mestori of Muktar Mala-10 said at least 12 fishermen had gone missing when the trawler capsized during the storm. Fatema Begum, the wife of missing fisherman Bashir, said the missing fishermen, including her husband, might have died.
She said: “I am at a loss as there is no one to run my family. I cannot think what I will do with my five children.” Ramgati UNO Delwar Hossain and Kamalnagar UNO Mohammad Abdul Awal confirmed the incident and said the victims would be helped by the union council chairman.