10 fishermen missing as trawler capsizes in Bay

At least 10 fishermen went missing as a robbers' trawler with 12 fishermen on board capsized in the Bay during a storm yesterday morning.

The incident took place when a robbers' gang was going towards the Sundarbans after kidnapping 12 fishermen from Narikelbaria area under Pathorghata upazila of Barguna district yesterday morning, said Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna district Fishing Trawler Owners' Association.

He said a gang of robbers attacked two fishing trawlers -- FB Mayer Doa-1 and FB Mayer Doa-2 owned by Forkan Mia of Pathorghata area -- on the Bay around 100 kms south of Patharghata upazila.

The gang kidnapped at least 12 fishermen from both trawlers, forced them to board their trawler named FB Sahin and headed for the Subdarbans. FB Sahin capsized at about 7:00am.

Delwar Hossain, driver of FB Mayer Doa-1, and Montu, driver of FB Mayer Doa-2, were able to flee after the trawler capsized. They later informed the trawler owners' association about the matter over cellphone. The 10 other kidnapped fishermen are missing.