Fisherfolk kidnapped

-- The Patharghata Trawler Owners' Association (ptoa) in Bangladesh recently complained that pirates had kidnapped 98 fisherfolk from the Shala canal in the Sundarbans, along with their trawlers. The fisherfolk had taken shelter in the canal during a storm. ptoa also claimed that the pirates had demanded us $7,671 ( Taka 500,000) as ransom for the release of the hostages.

The pirates also allegedly looted nets and other valuables worth us $15,342 ( Taka 1,000,000) from the fisherfolk, who hailed from Borguna district.