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Eighteen fishermen have been stranded in the Bay of Bengal for five days after the engine of their fishing trawler broke down off Rangabali in Patuakhali.
The trawler has been drifting near Sonarchar coast since Saturday night, September 19. Rough seas caused by bad weather have so far prevented rescue efforts.
The fishermen left Char Fasson ghat in Bhola on Saturday morning to fish in the sea, according to Mehedi Hasan, son of trawler owner and skipper Hanif Mia.
Mehedi said he spoke to his father on Tuesday night. His father told him that the sea was extremely rough and that several nearby fishing trawlers had been asked for help, but they were unable to approach because of the weather.
Fish trader Junaid Hasan called the national emergency service 999 after learning about the fishermen’s plight. He also contacted the Rangabali upazila administration, Coast Guard and naval police several times seeking help.
A responsible official at Rangabali Coast Guard said they had contacted local boat owners and those operating in the Sonarchar area, but none was willing to venture into the rough sea for the rescue.
The matter has been reported to the Coast Guard headquarters, which has sought assistance from the Bangladesh Navy, the official said.
However, locating the stranded trawler has emerged as the biggest challenge. Coast Guard personnel tried several times to contact the fishermen by phone. Although they managed to establish contact once, the fishermen later stopped answering calls.
The official said the trawler was believed to be drifting somewhere near Sonarchar coast, but its exact location could not be confirmed.
Rangabali Police Station Inspector Riaz Munsi said the fishermen had not yet been rescued, mainly because rough seas and rivers caused by the bad weather were hampering the operation.
Rangabali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nazmul Hasan also said there had been no breakthrough in the rescue effort, despite discussions with the naval police, Coast Guard and local fishermen.