Over 250  fishermen of Patuakhali remained missing as 16 fishing trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal amid inclement weather on Friday, said Naval police on Sunday. About 150 fishermen of 18 trawlers that sank in the Bay near Kuakata in Patuakhali have been rescued so far, said Akhtar Morshed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kuakata Naval police outpost. Locals along with a rescue trawler of fish wholesalers’ association reached the fish landing center with the rescued fishermen from Saturday evening to 11 pm on Sunday, the OC added. Kuakata-Alipur Fish Depot Owners Association President Ansar Uddin Mollah said 13 fishermen were rescued from the Bay while 11 fishermen were rescued by the fishermen of Rayadighi of India. They are currently in the South Sundarban Fishermen and Fish Workers Union of India’s custody. Read:34 fishermen go missing as 11 trawlers sink in Bay And the remaining fishermen were rescued by the trawlers of the owner's association and local fishermen. However, at least 126 fishermen of seven trawlers of Alipur are still missing, he added. Raju Ahmed Raja, general secretary of Mohipur Fish Depot Owners Association, said least 130 fishermen of nine trawlers of Mohipur are still missing. Besides, a fisherman Rafiq, 32, fell into the sea from a trawler on the way back to the shore from the deep sea and went missing. The owners of the capsized and missing trawlers are from Charfashion, Mahipur, Kalapara and Rangabali upazilas of Bhola, he added. “Operation is on to rescue the missing fishermen and trawlers,” said the OC.

Eight fishermen have gone missing as two trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal due to strong current triggered by monsoon depression, said Coast Guard. Seven of the missing fishermen were identified as Md Russel, 35, Md Mannan, 36, Nazrul, 40, Abdur Rahman, 37, Taslim, 30, Md Ismail, 40, and Jewel, 32. Two trawlers of ‘Kalam Majhi’ and ‘Yusuf Majhi’ of Dhalchar Union of Charfashion Upazila sank in the south Bay near Payra port in Patuakhali district on Tuesday, said Bhola Coast Guard South Zone Media Officer KM Shafiul Kinjal. The fishing trawler of Yusuf Majhi with 13 fishermen sank in the Bay amid inclement weather in the afternoon. Although five fishermen including Yusuf Majhi were rescued, eight others went missing. Read:Depression: Low-lying areas inundated in Bagerhat Dhalchar fisherman Abul Hossain said the fishing trawler of Kalam Majhi with eight fishermen sank in the Bay near Dhalchar in the morning. However, all fishermen of this trawler were saved. All the rescued fishermen are undergoing treatment at a local hospital in Patuakhali. Six teams of the Coast Guard with their two ships started a rescue operation. However, the rescue operation is being disrupted due to severe weather condition, said KM Shafiul. The depression over coastal Odisha and the adjoining Northwest Bay moved westwards and weakened into a well-marked low. It now lies over Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas of India, according to a special bulletin of the Met office. It is likely to move northwestwards further. Under its influence, steep pressure gradient persists over the North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. Squally weather may affect the maritime ports, the North Bay and the adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, as per the bulletin. All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.