The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Over 700 Bangladeshi fishermen aboard 50 trawlers, who were feared missing, reportedly have taken shelter in different coastal areas in West Bengal.

They cannot return to their trawlers because of high waves in the Bay of Bengal triggered by sudden storms, according to some of the fishermen, who have contacted their companies in Bangladesh. However, no officials of the External Publicity Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could confirm the reports.

A high official of the Foreign Ministry said they have asked the Deputy High Commission of Kolkata to look after the issue.

Over 100 fishing trawlers with some 1,200 fishermen on board had gone missing in the Bay of Bengal since last Thursday. Of them 100 were feared dead, according to the survivors.

The trawlers are anchored at Ketua in 24 Parganas district, and Naamkhana and Shankarpur of East Midnapore district, according to reports obtained here from the stranded fishermen.

Indian authorities have been considerate to the fishermen in view of the natural calamity, which forced them to land in India.

"Neither the Indian Border Security Force nor police took any action against them on humanitarian grounds," a local daily quoted boatman Habibur Rahman, who took shelter at Naamkhana, as saying. He also informed that Indian fishermen were assisting them by supplying food and providing security.

Khaleque Bepari, a stranded fisherman of a trawler named "FB Shahalam", informed its owner Monday that about 20 trawlers with around 280 fishermen aboard have taken shelter at Ketua.

He said they could not return home due to high waves in the Bay of Bengal.

Mohammad Ibrahim, another boatman, told his owner that about 30 trawlers took shelter at Shankarpur and Naamkhana.