COX'S BAZAR, Aug 06 (V7N) — The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued 18 fishermen along with their disabled fishing boat after it became stranded in the Bay of Bengal due to an engine failure, officials said on Wednesday.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan, the Coast Guard's media officer, said the rescue operation was launched after authorities received an emergency request through the national emergency service, 999.
According to the Coast Guard, the fishing boat, FB Nishan-2, departed for shore after completing a fishing trip with 18 fishermen on board. At around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the vessel suffered an engine failure approximately 10 nautical miles from the Sangu Gas Field and was left drifting in deep waters.
At about 1:00 p.m., one of the fishermen contacted the boat owner, who immediately sought assistance through the national emergency hotline. The Coast Guard was subsequently alerted.
Responding to the distress call, the Coast Guard patrol vessel Shyamal Bangla was dispatched to the location and successfully rescued all 18 fishermen along with the disabled boat.
The rescued fishermen were provided with first aid and food before being safely handed over to the boat owner along with the vessel.
The Coast Guard said it remains committed to ensuring the safety of fishermen operating in Bangladesh's coastal and offshore waters and will continue conducting emergency rescue operations whenever required.
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