Pirates threw 36 fishermen into the sea with their hands and legs tied, after attacking two fishing trawlers off the coast of Cox’s Bazar early Monday.
The pirates looted fish, fishing net, and trawler engines worth several lakh taka and beat up most of the fishermen.
Nineteen fishermen of one trawler were rescued from the Bay of Bengal while floating on the water on Monday morning. Seventeen men of the other trawler were rescued yesterday noon.
At least 24 fishermen, injured in the attack, were admitted to different hospitals in Cox’s Bazar.
Hemayet Uddin, 35, one of the injured fishermen, said they were returning in two trawlers — FB Senoara and FV Sukkur — to Cox’s Bazar after fishing in the deep sea for six days. The armed pirates in two trawlers attacked them near Sonadia Island.
Prodip Kumar Das, chief of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, said the sea area is beyond their jurisdiction. Moreover, they do not have modern boats to fight robbers in the sea, he added.
Police try to capture pirates on the coast if cases are filed, he said.