22 abducted fishermen freed in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, July 14 (UNB): The 22 fishermen who were abducted by pirates from the Bay of Bengal on Sunday were released on Tuesday following the payment of ransom.
Rashed, president of Hatia Jahajmara Boat Owners' Association, said the pirates swooped on two boats --'FV Nurjahan' and 'FV Faruk'-- in the Gas Filed area of the Bay of Bengal on Sunday while the fishermen were catching fish there.
The gangsters looted valuables, including big catch of hilsa, nets and cash money, from the boats after beating the fishermen mercilessly.
They demanded ransom from the victims' family members for the release of the fishermen and asked them to pay the cash through 'bKash.'
After getting the ransom money, the pirates released the 22 fishermen one after another.
However, the amount of the ransom money could not be known immediately.
Of the victims, 15 fishermen who were injured by the pirates were admitted to local hospital.