Coast Guard rescues 18 fishermen from disabled boat stranded in deep sea
The fishing boat FB Nishan-2 was returning from a fishing expedition.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued 18 fishermen from a fishing boat that was left adrift in the Bay of Bengal after its engine failed off the coast of Chattogram.
In a press release issued today (5 August), Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Suzan said the rescue operation was launched after authorities received an emergency alert through the national emergency service.
According to the statement, the fishing boat FB Nishan-2 was returning from a fishing expedition with 18 fishermen on board when its engine broke down at around 6am today (4 August). The vessel was drifting about 10 nautical miles from the Sangu Gas Field.
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At around 1pm, one of the fishermen managed to contact the boat owner, who sought assistance through the national emergency hotline 999. The information was then relayed to the Coast Guard.
Responding to the alert, the Coast Guard vessel Shyamal Bangla, which was on routine patrol in the area, launched a rescue operation and recovered the disabled fishing boat along with all 18 fishermen.
The rescued fishermen received primary medical care and food before being handed over to the boat owner along with the vessel, the statement said.
The Coast Guard said it will continue conducting emergency rescue operations to ensure the safety of fishermen operating in Bangladesh's coastal and offshore waters.
