At least 68 fishermen were abducted for ransom by pirates in Barguna and Noakhali districts yesterday.
Our Barguna correspondent said that the pirates abducted 50 fishermen from Pathorghata in the district around 3.50am.
Pathorghata Fishing Boat Owners Association President Golam Mostofa said more than 30 pirates attacked the fishermen while they were catching fish at Dubojahaj point in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Sundarbans.
They looted fishes and valuables from 100 trollers and abducted 50 fishermen for ransom.
AFB Khanjahan Ali, a troller which was chasing the pirates to rescue the fisherman, got damaged while the culprits fired at it.
Coast Guard Commander Lieutenant S A Abdur Rouf said that they conducted a drive to rescue the fishermen.
According to our Noakhali corespondent’s report, at least 18 fishermen were abducted from Sangu Gas Field Area by the pirates in the morning.
Md Rashed, president of Hatiya Fishing Boat Owners Association, said that the fishermen went to the sea to catch fish at night. While they were crossing the area, the pirates chased them.
Later, they abducted 18 fishermen at gun point and demanded Tk3 lakh to the boat owners over cellphone as ransom.
Lieutenant Tanvir Ahmed, Station Commander of Hatiya Coast Guard, said that they had conducted a drive in the area to rescue the fishermen.
