Two fishermen have died after a fishing trawler capsized near the Nazirartek coast of Cox’s Bazar, while two others remain missing, according to local sources.
The deceased have been identified as Foyez Ahmed and Saiful Islam. The missing fishermen are Nurul Alam and Muhib Ullah. All four are from Maheshkhali upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
According to local residents, the fishing trawler, owned by Faridul Alam of the Kutubjom area of Maheshkhali, left for the sea on Tuesday night carrying a number of fishermen. The vessel was engaged in fishing in the Bay of Bengal before heading towards the Nazirartek coastal area.
At around 4am on Thursday, the trawler came under the influence of stormy weather near the coast and overturned. The fishermen on board were thrown into the sea as the vessel capsized.
Local fishermen subsequently joined the rescue effort and recovered the bodies of Foyez Ahmed and Saiful Islam. Efforts are continuing to locate Nurul Alam and Muhib Ullah, with fishermen from the surrounding area searching the waters near the site of the accident.
The exact number of people aboard the trawler at the time of the incident was not immediately known. As a result, authorities and local residents have yet to establish whether anyone else may have been involved in the accident.
The incident highlights the risks faced by fishermen working in the Bay of Bengal, particularly when weather conditions deteriorate suddenly. Fishing communities along Bangladesh’s coast depend heavily on the sea for their livelihoods, but small and medium-sized fishing vessels can become vulnerable when strong winds and rough waters develop.
For fishermen at sea, changing weather conditions can quickly turn a routine fishing trip into an emergency. Storms can reduce visibility, create powerful waves and make it difficult for a vessel to maintain stability or return safely to shore. Timely weather warnings and decisions to leave fishing grounds before conditions worsen therefore remain crucial to maritime safety.
For the families of the missing fishermen, the immediate priority is finding their relatives. Local fishermen are continuing the search for Nurul Alam and Muhib Ullah, while the circumstances surrounding the capsizing are expected to become clearer once the number of people aboard and other details of the incident are confirmed.
