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Four fishing trawlers from Barguna fell prey to a violent pirate attack in the Bay of Bengal, between Dhalchar and Hatiya, on the night of 10 April.
The assailants looted fishing nets worth approximately Tk60 lakh, fish valued at around Tk20–22 lakh, Tk50–60 thousand in cash, and 30 mobile phones from the fishermen.
The pirates, 25 to 30 in number and masked, launched a coordinated assault on the vessels—FB Tufan-2, FB Madina-1, FB Ma-1, and FB Tarek-1—while they were engaged in deep-sea fishing after departing from Patharghata.
Speaking in a regional Chattogram dialect, the attackers were armed with both traditional and modern weapons.
During the raid, they assaulted seven fishermen and shot one with a shotgun. They then disabled the engines of all four trawlers before fleeing.
Members of the Coast Guard's South Zone in Patharghata responded to the distress call around 9:30pm, rescuing the injured fishermen and the attacked trawlers.
The injured were initially taken to Patharghata Upazila Health Complex, with the seriously wounded—Bellal (40) and Mostafa (60)—later transferred to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for advanced treatment.
The injured have been identified as Monir Hossain Majhi (35) from Bara Tengra, Bellal (40) and Abul Kalam (50) from Kalmagha, another Bellal (31) from Chhonbunia Kalmagha, Zahid, 22 from Char Kagachhia, Ibrahim, 30 from Noli, Ilyas, 20 from Ajokathi, and Mostafa, 60 from Noli Sajipara - all hailing from the Barguna district.
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, President of the Barguna District Trawler Owners’ Association, confirmed the incident and said they had immediately informed the police, Coast Guard, and local administration.
Trawlers were dispatched from Patharghata to retrieve the victims. Except for the injured, all other fishermen have returned home.
HM Harun-or-Rashid, media officer of the Patharghata Coast Guard, stated that all four trawlers and the crew were recovered, and the injured were sent for treatment.
Officer-in-Charge of Patharghata Police Station, Mehedi Hasan, clarified that the area of the attack falls outside his jurisdiction, but assured that if any written complaints are received from local fishermen, they will coordinate with the relevant police station for legal proceedings.
Patharghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rokonuzzaman Khan said he had alerted all law enforcement agencies including the Navy and Coast Guard upon hearing of the incident.
He maintained constant communication with trawler owners and ensured the fishermen's safe return. He confirmed that two of the injured were sent to Barishal for further medical care.
