92 fishermen missing for 3 days in the Bay

At least 92 fishermen have been missing for the last three days in the Bay of Bengal after seven fishing trawlers reportedly capsized during a storm on July 21.

The fishing trawlers capsized during the storm in the Bay about 60 kilometres south-west from Patharghata upazila in Barguna, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

The missing trawlers are FB Shahjalal, FB Mayer Doa, FB Juwel, FB Bhai Bhai, FB Tareq, FB Morium and FB Mohammadi Hossen, according to Barguna trawler owners association.

The fishermen were from different villages in Barguna district. Their relatives are now passing their days in anxiety and premonition while coast gourds, navy and trawler owners are searching for them in the Bay.

Confirming the matter to The Daily Star, Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna Fishing Trawler Owner’s Association, said, “At least 14 fishing trawlers went missing on the Bay on July 21 during a sudden storm. On the next day, 98 fishermen of seven trawlers were rescued but 92 fishermen of the seven other trawlers are still missing”.

“We already sent three trawlers to the Bay on Monday to search for them but they have not returned yet”, he added.

Md Dulal Master, secretary of Barguna district unit of Fishing Trawler’s Employee Union, told our correspondent that the anxious family members of the missing fishermen have been calling them to get news of the missing.

Owner of one of missing trawlers, Md Sahin said, “My trawler went to the Bay on July 18 with 21 fishermen and since then they have been missing as we can’t communicate with them. I filed a general diary with Patharghata Police station on Monday night in this regard.”

Md Jahirul Islam, Station Commander for Patharghata Coast Guard, said, “We sent ships on the Bay to search missing trawlers and fishermen but till now we have not found them. A navy ship is also searching for them”.

Molla Md Khabir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Patharghata Police Station, told our correspondent that three fishing trawler owners filed three separate general diaries on Monday over the matter.