Bangladesh Navy ship 'Padma' rescued 12 fishermen along with their broken-down fishing trawler 'FB Nayeem' from the Bay of Bengal on Thursday night.
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release issued Friday, BNS Padma initiated the rescue mission upon receiving intelligence of a drifting vessel. After several hours of intensive searching, the naval ship located the floating trawler using radar and successfully rescued all 12 fishermen at around 10:30 p.m.
The operation was conducted amidst a Signal No. 3 cautionary alert, dark night and sea state 4 rough sea conditions.
Navy personnel provided the fishermen with food, pure drinking water and emergency first aid to one injured fisherman.
Despite adverse weather, BNS Padma towed the distressed trawler for approximately 28 kilometers to the Bangladesh Coast Guard outpost at Dublar Char near the Sundarbans. The rescued fishermen and the trawler were later handed over to the Coast Guard.
According to the fishermen, the trawler departed from Payra Port on Sept. 8 for a fishing expedition in the Bay. The vessel's engine failed on the night of Sept. 9, leaving the 12 crew members drifting in open waters until the Navy intervened.