Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) on Saturday rescued 19 fishermen on a fishing trawler 22.5 nautical miles away from the coast of Cox's Bazar after they called the national emergency service number 999.
Teknaf Station Commander Lt Commander HM Lutful Lahil Majid confirmed the matter in a press conference at Coast Guard East Zone BCG station in Nuniachara area of the town in the afternoon.
On April 23, 19 fishermen boarded the fishing trawler named FD "Sajib-1" and set sail for the Bay from Manpura area of Bhola district to bait and catch fish for their businesses. At one stage, they got stranded after their trawler's engine went out of order.
Since then, the engine has stopped working, and the trawler has been drifting in the deep sea.
He also said there was water all around, and the shores were not visible from the deep sea.
"After floating in the sea for these days, suddenly the network became available and they called the emergency service at 999," he said.
"There was no mobile network." The position of the trawler could not be detected as it did not have a GPS device, he said.
The Coast Guard members conducted a rescue operation at sea and rescued 19 fishermen unharmed, added the officer.