Piracy up as hilsha season approaches

Illegal nets seized by Navy in the coastal areas recently. Photo: ISPR

On Saturday, at least 11 fishermen were injured when pirates attacked 11 fishing trawlers in Majherchar in Borhanuddin upazila in the Meghna estuary.

They are Jasim, Rashid, Zakir, Alauddin, Maksud, Shahed Ali,

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Lokman, Manirul, Nazrul, Ruhul Amin and Nurunnabi.

Jasim and Rashis have been admitted to Barishal Sher- e - Bangla Medical College Hospital with critical eye injuries from bullet and the rest nine at upazila health complexes in Bhola Sadar and Borhanuddin.

Police visited the spot but a case is yet to be filed.

Earlier on April 16, pirates took away six fishing trawlers from near Telear Char and Bason Bhanga areas in Tajumuddin upazila. The pirates also looted about Tk 15 lakh from the fishermen.

In last one month, over 50 fishing trawlers were looted, 15 hijacked and at least 100 fishermen were injured in such attacks, police and fishermen said.

The pirates mainly belong to two gangs, one led by Shkawat, brother of notorious gang leader Alauddin and the other by Bachchu, sources said.

At times the gangs are also engaged in gunfight over their area of control.

Last week, at least 20 persons of both the rival gangs were injured in a gun fight. Three of them- Shamsuddin, Wali Majhi, and Abul Kalam, of Shakhawat's gang--were admitted to Tajumuddin upazila health complex with bullet injury.

Three others -- Fazlu, Bablu and gang leader Bachchuwere treated at a private clinic to avoid police, sources said.

Tajumuddin thana police visited the spot and recovered six trawlers and some firearms used by the gangs but could not arrest any one.

The pirates realise Tk. 5,000 to Tk. 20,000 from each fishing trawler as toll and attack trawlers when refused.

Fishermen said the attacks increased in the last few days as the Hilsha season is approaching.

An ISPR press release in Dhaka says: Bangladesh Navy personnel now deployed in anti-piracy and fishery protection duties in the coastal areas seized nine nets worth about Tk 5.60 crore mainly used for catching Hilsha fry.

They seized about 16.30 lakh metres of illegal nets from coasts and Meghna estuary areas in Kadamtoli, Charmonai, Mirganj, Diarika, Shikarpur, Uzirpur Mosjidbari, Bonaripara, Swarupkathi, Jhalakathi. These were burnt in presence of local administration officials, police and journalists in the areas.