Six Fishermen Missing After Trawler Capsizes in Bay of Bengal

A search and rescue operation is under way in the Bay of Bengal after a fishing trawler carrying eleven crew members capsized amidst severe weather and turbulent sea conditions. At least six fishermen remain missing following the maritime accident, which occurred deep at sea on Sunday night, whilst five others were successfully rescued by a nearby vessel.

The incident was brought to light on Monday afternoon when the surviving fishermen briefly entered a mobile network coverage zone in the deep ocean. They immediately contacted their families to report the disaster, prompting the vessel owner’s relatives to alert the police authorities in the Galachipa sub-district.

Severe Midnight Gale Targets Hilsa Fleet

According to local industry sources, the fishing trawler, owned by Md. Emadul Sikder of the Panpatti union under Galachipa upazila, ventured into the deep waters of the Bay of Bengal last Thursday to harvest Hilsa. The voyage progressed without incident until Sunday night at approximately 10:00 pm, when sudden, violent gales and heavy swells overwhelmed the vessel.

The mechanical trawler was destabilised by the waves, causing it to capsize rapidly. Crew members on a separate fishing vessel operating nearby witnessed the disaster and rushed to assist. They managed to pull five survivors from the water, but the remaining six crew members could not be reached before the vessel went under.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Galachipa Police Station, Md. Imtiaz Ahmed, confirmed the details of the accident. He explained that eleven individuals, including the boat owner Emadul, were on board when the storm struck. Whilst five fishermen positioned on the deck were thrown clear and rescued, the six missing crew members were reportedly inside the cabin when the vessel overturned, severely complicating initial rescue attempts. The rescued survivors remain at sea on board the assisting vessel and are expected to take several hours to reach the coastline due to continuing bad weather.

Government Coordinates Emergency Search Operations

Local administrative bodies have mobilised resources to track down the missing individuals. The authorities have identified the missing fishermen as Md. Harun Howlader, Md. Emadul, Md. Forkan, Md. Sayem, Md. Al Amin, and Md. Akash, all residents of various villages within the Galachipa region, including South Panpatti, Ichadi, and Pokhia.

Galachipa Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Abujar Md. Ijazul Haque, stated that administrative teams have established communication with the survivors at sea. The local administration is working alongside the district authorities and relevant maritime agencies to orchestrate a wider search operation for the missing men. Furthermore, the regional health department has been instructed to stand by and prepare medical intervention and emergency treatment for the survivors as soon as they are brought ashore.