- Four Rare Snow Leopards Spotted on Pakistan’s Northern Peaks |
- Gold becomes pricier than ever in Bangladesh |
- Bangladesh mourns Pope Francis’ death; Yunus pays tribute |
- Bangladesh Railway hospitals to open doors to general public |
- US-Bangla launches direct flights from Dhaka to Riyadh |
Pirate Attack in Bay of Bengal Leaves 51 Injured
At least 51 fishermen were injured after a group of armed pirates attacked multiple trawlers in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday night, officials said.
The victims managed to return to shore at Patharghata around 8pm on Thursday—more than 25 hours after the attack. The delay was reportedly caused by the pirates damaging the trawlers, said Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the Patharghata Trawler Owners’ Association in Barguna district.
According to Chowdhury, the assailants, estimated to be a group of 25–30 masked and armed men, attacked five fishing trawlers—FB Tufan-2, FB Madina-1, FB Ma-1, and FB Tarek-1—while they were fishing between Dhal Char and Hatiya.
Held at gunpoint, the fishermen were beaten and robbed of fish, cash, and mobile phones worth an estimated Tk 2 crore. One fisherman, identified as Belal, was shot with a shotgun when the group attempted to resist.
Despite the damage to the boats, the injured fishermen managed to bring the vessels back to Patharghata. They were taken to the Patharghata Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Belal, who sustained a gunshot wound, was later transferred to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital for advanced care.
The identities of the attackers remain unknown. Local authorities, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Roknuzzaman Khan, have confirmed the incident and said efforts are underway to identify the pirates. He added that medical support was arranged for all the injured.