At least five pirates were critically injured and may have succumbed to their injuries, during a marathon six-hour gunfight with the police in the Manpura upazila of Bhola early Sunday.
The incident occurred at the Burir Don area near the Meghna estuary in Manpura.
Md Maniruzzaman Monir, the district superintendent of police, citing eyewitness accounts, said the pirates were seen dragging away five of their fellow gang members, when they fled the scene. It could not be confirmed whether any of the pirates had died. There was no police casualty.
According to sources, the pirates are believed to belong to the notorious gang Kalam Bahini and they opened fire on a police patrol team around 3am.
Police retaliated by firing back, triggering a six-hour-long fight. Policemen from Lalmohan, Tajumuddin and Monpura police stations joined in the fray.
Police reportedly fired 52 rounds of gunshots during the fight while the pirates fired more than 200 shots.
Later, the pirates retreated and took shelter in a forest in the remote Dhal Char.
Police were yet to arrest any of the pirates or recover any dead body when this report was filed in the afternoon, but they said they would launch a raid soon.
The pirates managed to get away police forces were “less prepared” in terms of manpower and firepower compared with the pirates, Maniruzzaman said.
A trawler used by the pirates and some sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.