17 fishermen rescued after three days adrift at sea

Seventeen fishermen were rescued after spending three days adrift in the Bay of Bengal when the propeller of their fishing trawler broke down, leaving the vessel stranded at sea. Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the Barguna Fishermen Trawler Owners Association, confirmed the rescue at around 10 p.m. on Saturday.

He said the fishermen, all from different areas of Patharghata Upazila in Barguna, were rescued safely and are in good health. According to local sources, the 17 fishermen left the BFDC Fish Landing Centre in Patharghata five days ago aboard the fishing trawler FB Jahan for a fishing expedition in the deep sea.

Three days ago, the trawler’s propeller suddenly broke down, leaving the vessel disabled and drifting in the Bay of Bengal. With no means of communication, the fishermen remained stranded at sea.

After the drifting trawler entered an area with mobile phone coverage, the fishermen managed to contact the trawler’s owner, who informed the Barguna Fishermen Trawler Owners Association.

The association then alerted the Coast Guard West Zone.

A Coast Guard team launched a rescue operation and rescued the fishermen in the early hours of Sunday. All 17 fishermen were brought ashore safely.