12 fishermen rescued from sea after 5 days via 999 emergency service

Twelve fishermen, who had been stranded at sea for five days after their trawler's engine broke down, were rescued following a distress call to the national emergency hotline 999.

"Yesterday morning, a rescue team found the fishermen 35 nautical miles off the coast of Cox's Bazar's Sonadia Island and safely brought them and their trawler back to shore," Inspector Anwar Sattar, media and public relations officer of 999, told The Business Standard today (25 March).

He said on 17 March, the fishermen set out from Chattogram's Banshkhali for fishing. "However, on 18 March night, their trawler's engine failed, leaving them adrift in the sea for five days. Due to the lack of mobile network coverage, they could not seek help."

"On 23 March, the fishermen finally regained mobile network access, allowing one of the fishermen to contact 999 for assistance," he added.

The inspector further said Constable Liton Mia, a call taker at 999, received the distress call and immediately alerted the Cox's Bazar Coast Guard Control Room, Maheshkhali Police Station, and Maheshkhali River Police for a rescue operation.

"Assistant Sub-Inspectors Lokman Hossain and Sirajul Islam, dispatchers at 999, maintained communication with both the caller and the rescue teams."