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Download PDF At least 177 fishermen of 15 fishing boats that went down in the Bay of Bengal Thursday due to a storm are still missing, surviving fishermen said.
The depression that caused the sinking of the vessels intensified to a deep depression over the northwest Bay, prompting weather watchers to advise Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla ports to lower the local cautionary signal three and hoist local warning signal four.
Heavy sea is preventing rescue operations to begin. Authorities concerned, however, said they are prepared and would start their operations as soon as the stormy weather subsides.
Surviving fishermen of the coastal belts of Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola reckon that the number of missing trawlers is around 70, with 840 fishermen and crew on board. Thirty trawlers were reported to have successfully taken shelter at different islands, chars and canals of Mongla, Alorkol, Char Meher Ali and other areas of the coast.
Of the 70 missing trawlers, 30 were from Patharghata, eight each from Barguna and Mathbaria, 11 from Kuakata, 13 from Sharonkhola in the districts of Barguna, Patuakhali, Pirojpur and Bagerhat.
Our Barisal correspondent adds: Stormy weather forced port authorities to place a ban on the plying of launch-type vessels that are less than 65 foot in length. The ban was enforced on 28 inland waterways of Barisal, 21 waterways of Patuakhali, 13 of Barguna, 14 of Bhola and coastal ferry services on five routes of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong.
Quoting a fisherman Sagar Miah of FB Laboni, a fishing trawler, which returned safe, adviser to Barguna District Trawler Owners’ Association said five trawlers might have capsized between Thursday evening and Friday night.
FB Alauddin Hafiz, with 13 crew and fishermen, from Dubla char, FB Selim, with 15 crew and fishermen, from Narikel Bari area allegedly went down Friday.
FB Zannat, with 14 crew and fishermen, from Pokkhirchar, FB Sat Vai Champa, with 16 crew and fishermen, from Dubojahaj, FB Bhai Bhai, with 11 fishermen and crew, from Hiron Point area reportedly capsized between Thursday afternoon and Friday night. Another trawler from Galachipa was reported to have capsized with 15 fishermen and crew on board.
Three trawlers, with 44 crew and fishermen, from Bhola also reported to have sunk in the Bay.
Selim Khan, upazila nirbahi officer of Patharghata, said an emergency meeting on rescue operations was held at Patharghata upazila parishad auditorium around yesterday noon.
Officials of local and district administration, coast guard and trawler owners’ associations attended the meeting.
At least 55 fishermen in Patuakhali are missing for two days as the sea became rough due to the depression over the Bay, according to our Patuakhali correspondent.
The vessels sailed from Kuakata and are believed to have capsized in the sea.
Fishermen of Kuakata while talking to reporters yesterday demanded modern warning system, and cellphone and radio networks in deep sea to reduce loss of lives during natural calamities.
“Fisheries secretary assured us of setting a signal light on the Kuakata beach during his visit there two years ago, “Abdus Salam Howlader, president of Mohipur Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, said.
“We also demanded hourly weather bulletins to be aired on radio specially during disaster periods,” he added.
Our Khulna correspondent reports: Two fishing boats capsized in the Bay with 11 on board who are still missing.
UNB reports: The deep depression over Northwest Bay and the adjoining west-central Bay off Orissa coast moved slightly north-north-westwards and now lies over the same area.
It was centred about 680km west-southwest of Chittagong Port, 660km west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar and 470km southwest of Mongla Port yesterday noon.
It is likely to intensify further, move in a north-north-westerly direction and cross the coast of Indian state of Orissa near Paradwip.
Under its influence, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Chandpur, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by two to four foot high wind driven surges.
All fishing boats and trawlers on the North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla have been advised to hoist local warning signal number four.
Meanwhile, unloading of goods from ships in Chittagong Port was disrupted yesterday due to restriction placed for the bad weather on the movement of lighter vessels.
September 23rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
How sad is the picture. These poor fishermen provide services to Bangladesh Community. With hard toil they try to derive an Income.
ALAS! what happeded to these poor people, what will happen to their families!
Would there be any end to day to day miseries of Our brothers & sisters of Bangldesh?