Teknaf, Bangladesh: Two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers were kidnapped by Burmese pirates from the Bay of Bengal while the said fishing boats were fishing in the bay from the nearby Saint Martin Islands, southwest of the Sera Islands, on August 17, at about 8 am, said Moktol Hussain, an owner of one of the boats.
“One fishing trawler was mine of Teknaf Sowdowry Para, and another fishing trawler belongs to Shoffique from Zala Para of Teknaf Union. The trawlers went to the Bay of Bengal to buy fish from the fishing boats in the bay. When the two trawlers went to the Bay of Bengal, suddenly two fishing boats from the Burma side with 20 to 25 fishermen came to the spot and attacked to our trawlers with lethal weapons and looted Taka 200,000, four mobile sets, and other things from the fishing boats.”
“After looting the fishing trawlers, the pirates brought them to the Burma side, but a few minutes later, they were released. After that, the Mazi (drivers) of the trawlers went back to their homes.”
The Bangladeshi owners of the fishing trawlers informed this matter to the concerned border authorities, hoping that action would be taken against the Burmese pirates through the Nasaka (Burma’s border security force), said a fisherman from Shapuri Dip.
Two fishing boats with about 25 persons from the Burma side led by Jamil Mazi and Kasim Mazi of Ukil Para of Maungdaw Town came to attack the Bangladeshi fishing boats, said a local from Shapuri Dip of Bangladesh who asked not to be named.
