Barguna, Aug 26 (V7N) - Five fishermen have remained missing for more than 24 hours after the fishing trawler FB Barkat sank in the Bay of Bengal, triggering anguish and uncertainty among their families.
Reports claiming that the bodies of the missing fishermen had been recovered reached their families around noon on Tuesday (Aug 25), causing widespread grief. However, the authorities have not officially confirmed any recovery of bodies.
Relatives of the missing fishermen said Badal Molla, one of the owners of the sunken trawler, had informed them that the bodies had been recovered. The families said they received the information from him.
However, when contacted, joint owners of FB Barkat, Badal Molla and Ashraf, denied providing any such information.
“We did not give anyone any such information. The search and rescue operation is still underway, and so far no one has been recovered,” they said.
Mizan Biswas, one of the fishermen who survived the incident, said the trawler carrying 13 fishermen capsized within moments after being hit by a large wave.
Seven fishermen managed to get out of the trawler and remained afloat in the sea. Another fishing trawler later arrived and rescued them. After the rescue, they remained near the accident site for some time in an effort to locate the missing fishermen.
At one point, they spotted a fisherman named Monmath floating in the water and rescued him. After searching the area for a considerable period without finding the others, the eight survivors eventually returned on another fishing trawler.
Five fishermen remain missing, and no confirmed information about their whereabouts has been received.
Earlier, on Monday (Aug 24), FB Barkat sank after being caught in a severe storm and rough seas while carrying 13 fishermen. After the fishermen had spent around two hours in the water, another fishing trawler reached the scene and rescued eight of them.
The District Fishermen’s Trawler Owners’ Association subsequently sent two trawlers into the deep sea to search for the five missing fishermen.
Gholam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the district trawler owners’ association, said two trawlers had been deployed for the search and rescue operation.
However, he said the two trawlers were currently outside network coverage, making communication with them impossible.
Patharghata Upazila Fisheries Officer Hasibul Haque said fishermen sent by the trawler owners’ association and members of the River Police were conducting the search.
He said rough sea conditions had made the operation difficult and that no additional fishermen had been rescued so far.
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