The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACCORDING to reports coming from different coastal districts, rampant abduction and piracy worry fishermen this time when huge amount of hilsa fish is being netted in the Bay of Bengal. Fishermen are afraid to go to the sea for catching the fish as they face frequent abduction by pirates in the Bay. Pirates abducted more than 30 fishermen and looted 46 fishing trawlers and later many of the abducted fishermen secured release after payment of ransom and returned empty-handed to their homes in Patuakhali and Barguna districts.

All of their belongings-the trawlers, fishing nets and cash-were taken away. The pirates in big gangs and equipped with firearms pounced on them in the sea very often and loot away whatever they have on board the trawlers. According to one local fishing trawler owners' association in Patuakhali, hundreds of fishermen are now engaged in catching hilsa.

They go in small groups and return with trawler-loads of fish to ports scattered along the coast wherefrom truck loads of hilsha rush towards different inland and export destinations. Following huge catch, prices of hilsa has started coming down.

But as the pirates are now posing serious threats of abduction, the fishermen in the coastal areas feel scared to go to sea for catching hilsa. The law-enforcing agencies including coastguard are there to keep watch, but could not remain vigilant, for what they allege, lacking adequate facilities including vessels. Some of the fishermen who have been released after their abduction, said pirates evolved a peculiar system and introduced 'token' for trawlers to allow them to fish in the sea after meeting their ransom demand. The prices of hilsa would come further down if piracy in the Bay is stopped by taking adequate security measures with intensified patrolling by the Navy and the Coast Guards.