Trawler with 22 Bangladeshis rescued from Myanmar border

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard on Thursday rescued a trawler that floated into the Myanmar side of the maritime border after its engine had stopped working following a storm. The trawler was carrying 22 dwellers of St Martin's island. 

Station Commander of St Martin's Island coast guard Lt Josel Rana said: "On Thursday evening, the trawler was going back to St Martin's island from Teknaf through the Naaf river. When it reached Naikhong island area by Myanmar maritime  borders in the Bay of Bengal, the engine stopped. A team of coast guards was sent to rescue the trawler carrying 22 passengers including two women on Thursday noon. They were brought to the island by evening. No one received any injuries."

A rescued passenger Abdur Rahim said, "The trawler floated into Myanmar maritime border after the engine stopped. Suddenly a storm came our way and everyone started to fear for their lives."

St Martin Union Parishad Chairman Nur Ahmed said, "If the coast guard members were unable to rescue the passengers, they would have been detained by Myanmar's Border Guard Police."

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Robiul Hasan said, "The rescued passengers have been brought to the island safely and are being taken care of."