Fourteen fishermen were rescued alive after a fishing trawler capsised in rough seas in the Bay of Bengal, around 10 kilometres off the Fakirhat area of Taltali upazila in Barguna district, on Thursday night.
The sunken trawler, named FB Mayer Doa and owned by Zafar Mia of the Nidra area in Taltali, has yet to be traced.
According to the Bangladesh Trawler Owners Association, the vessel set out for fishing in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday with 14 fishermen on board.
On Thursday, adverse weather conditions and strong waves forced the fishermen to return to the coast. However, while passing through deep waters about 10 kilometres from Fakirhat, the trawler lost control and capsised after being hit by heavy waves.
After receiving information about the incident, representatives of the Fakirhat Fish Landing Centre and local fishermen launched a joint search and rescue operation.
At around 10:00pm, a fishing trawler owned by Selim Majhi rescued all 14 fishermen alive.
Bangladesh Trawler Owners Association President Golam Mostafa Chowdhury said the association sent a rescue trawler to the area after receiving the news. Shortly afterwards, Selim Majhi’s trawler rescued the fishermen.
Due to continued rough sea conditions, the rescue trawler could not return to the landing ghat on Thursday night and remained anchored at sea. The rescued fishermen were expected to reach the harbour on Friday morning.
