Pirates abducted 60 more fishermen with 15 trawlers from Bengal coasts in Bagerhat early yesterday, hours after they kidnapped 75 fishermen along with 10 trawlers for ransom in Barguna and Bagerhat on Tuesday and Wednesday.
With this, the armed gangsters mercilessly beat up and injured 20 fishermen and looted fish, fishing nets, cash and valuables worth Tk 70 lakh from 80 trawlers in the last three days.
Local fishermen said, a notorious gang swooped on 15 fishing trawlers, committed robbery and kidnapped 60 fishermen along with 15 trawlers from Bengal coasts in Sharankhola.
The kidnapped fishermen come from different upazilas of Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna, Bhola and Patuakhali districts.
Incidents of attack and looting of fishing trawlers, abduction of fishermen for ransom and killing of them by pirates have been rising alarmingly in the Bay and coasts of Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali and Laxmipur in the last few months.
The incidents have become a cause of concern in the villages of coastal upazilas and Sundarbans areas.
In the wake of increasing piracy, fishermen these days decline to go for fishing in coasts and deep sea.
Patharghata Upazila Matsyajibi Samity leaders said pirates committed robbery in over 85 fishing trawlers and abducted 75 fishermen along with 10 trawlers in Fairway Boya, Bedarhali and Nishan Baria areas of Rayenda and Patharghata upazilas of Bagerhat and Barguna respectively on Tuesday night and early Wednesday.
They demanded strengthening of steps to ensure security of the fishermen while fishing in the coasts and deep sea.
Source : The Daily Star
