A Coast Guard team has brought back the trawler in evening
At least five people have been killed and 25 others injured as brokers opend fire on illegal passengers in a Malaysia-bound trawler in the Bay of Bengal near the St Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila on Wednesday.
The identities of the deceased and the injured could not be ascertained immediately.
Quoting the passengers, the Coast Guard members said the brokers opened fire on the illegal passengers during a clash between the passengers and the brokers.
“The passengers locked into the clash with the brokers as the trawler became stranded in the Bay some 10 days ago.”
Coast Guard Teknaf Station Commander Kazi Harunur Rashid said: “Five bodies have been recovered from the trawler and we have rescued some 25 injured people, and 15 by bullets. The other passengers are being rescued from the trawler.”
However, he did not say whether anyone was arrested in this connection. “Detailed information in this regard will be made public after evacuating the trawler.”
The Coast Guard members managed to bring the trawler back to the shore at 6:15pm.
The trawler was heading to Malaysia carrying about 300 illegal Bangladeshis, he said.
The clash erupted between illegal passengers and their brokers when the engine of the trawler went out of run in the Bay of Bengal on the way to Malaysia, he said.
Hearing the news, the authorities of Coast Guard Teknaf station informed Coast Guard St Martin’s Island station about the matter. A team of Coast Guard were sent to the spot immediately after getting the news.
Locals said some of the stranded passengers sought help from their relatives over mobile phones.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
