A fishing trawler named FB Barkat sank in rough weather and high waves in the deep Bay of Bengal near the Patharghata coast of Barguna, leaving five fishers missing. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon about 60 kilometres from Kuakata. Eight of the 13 fishers aboard were rescued alive after the trawler capsized.

The vessel, owned by Patharghata’s Ashraf Company, had left Patharghata two days earlier for fishing. Rescued fisher and cook Yunus Mollah said several exhausted crew members had fallen asleep inside the trawler’s bridge while preparations were being made to cast nets. A large wave then struck the vessel, causing it to overturn.

Yunus Mollah said the eight survivors drifted at sea for about two hours before another fishing trawler passing near the site rescued them. One fisher trapped inside the bridge managed to get out after about 20 minutes. The missing fishers are Nur Alam, Kawser, Saikul, Ibrahim and Bellal, all from Patharghata Sadar Union. The district fishers’ trawler owners’ association has sent a trawler to search for them, and rescue efforts continue.