Two Sri Lankan fishermen, a father and his son, who had been drifting in the Bay of Bengal for 36 days after their boat suffered an engine failure, were rescued and handed over to Maheshkhali Police on Saturday.

According to the rescued fishermen, their ‘Danish boat’ lost engine power while they were fishing in rough weather. The boat continued drifting and eventually entered Bangladesh’s maritime territory.

They claimed that while they were stranded at sea, they were attacked by pirates, who took away all their belongings and supplies from the boat.

Local sources said fishermen from a fishing boat owned by Ziaur Rahman of South Para village under Kutubjom union in Maheshkhali spotted the stranded Danish boat carrying the two foreign fishermen in the area known as Gulirdhar while returning after fishing in the sea.

The fishermen rescued the father and son and brought the disabled boat to Tajiyakatha Ghat after tying it to their own fishing boat.

Following the rescue, the two Sri Lankan fishermen took shelter at the house of boat owner Ziaur Rahman.

Witnesses said the rescued Danish boat had no belongings inside and there were clear signs that the items kept on the boat had been looted.

Maheshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdus Sultan confirmed the matter, saying the two foreign fishermen are now in police custody.

He said necessary steps are being taken to verify their identities and complete the required legal and diplomatic procedures.