Rangabali:A fishing trawler sank in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Rangabali in Patuakhali due to severe weather conditions on Wednesday night. All nine fishermen on board were rescued by another trawler.
According to United News of Bangladesh, an ongoing deep depression over the Bay has caused cloudy weather and intermittent moderate rain in the coastal areas of Rangabali, Kuakata, and the Payra seaport. The trawler owner, Zahir Peya, reported that rough waves were responsible for the sinking.
Meanwhile, another group of 18 fishermen has been stranded at sea since Saturday after their trawler's engine failed near Sonarchar. They remain approximately 80 to 100 kilometres east-southeast of the estuary near Sonarchar. Efforts to rescue them have been hampered by the rough sea, preventing nearby fishing trawlers from reaching them.
The incident has been reported to the local upazila administration, Coast Guard, and naval police. Amzad Hossain, officer in charge of the Rangabali Coast Guard, stated that it could take six to eight hours to reach the stranded fishermen, citing limitations in available vessels, manpower, and rescue equipment.
The Rangabali Naval Police are coordinating rescue efforts with other fishermen in the area. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised maritime ports, including Payra, to maintain local cautionary signal No. 3, due to maximum sustained wind speeds of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour near the centre of the depression. Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay have sought shelter in various channels, including the fishing ports of Alipur and Mahipur.