The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Barisal

Pirates looted 68 fishing trawlers and abducted 40 fishermen for ransom in different points of the Bay in last four days since Wednesday.

The pirates looted all valuables including fish, fuel, net, engine and spare parts and cash worth Tk 20 lakh from those trawlers and injured at least 11 fishermen by beating and chopping.

Fishermen have been panicked to go to the sea due to rampant piracy although huge hilsa fishes are being netted in Patuakhali and Barguna coasts for the last seven days.

"Piracy has increased as lots of hilsa are being netted now", said Abdus Salam, president of trawler owners' association in Mohipur of Patuakhali.

The pirates hijacked four trawlers with 40 fisher men and demanded Tk 8 lakh ransom for their release, sources said. The looted trawlers included FB Janani, FB Molla, FB Mohima, FB Kabir, FB Swapan, FB Rakib and FB Mayer Doa.

The victim fishermen said pirate gangs have introduced 'token' for trawlers, which have to be collected after meeting their demands. Pirates kidnapped the fishermen as they did not buy 'token' from them after payment of toll and took the hostages to an unknown place in the Sundarbans.

A Coast Guard official in Bhola said drive against pirates would be launched in the Bay soon. He said they have shortage of vessels for patrolling in the fishing areas.