Over 10,000 fishermen halt fishing amid pirate threat in Sundarbans

KHULNA, Feb 19 (UNB): More than 10,000 dry-fish processing fishermen in Dubla Char of the Sundarbans have stopped fishing in the sea and rivers since Wednesday evening due to renewed fears of forest pirates.

The fishermen suspended fishing amid uncertainty over the fate of 20 fishermen who were allegedly abducted on Monday night.

Their whereabouts have remained unknown for the past two days.

President of the Dubla Fishermen Group, freedom fighter Md Kamal Uddin Ahmed, told UNB over the phone from Alorkol that the absence of adequate security in the Sundarbans and adjacent sea areas has left fishermen terrified of abduction.

"Over 10,000 fishermen engaged in dry-fish processing stopped

fishing in the sea and rivers from Wednesday evening and are now staying idle on the char," he said.

With the season nearing its end, many fishermen are worried about returning home empty-handed, he added.