Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Sixteen fishermen have been missing in Bay of Bengal for a week after a fishing boat was attacked by pirates. The fishermen were tied with ropes and thrown into the sea, according to fisherman from Cox’s Bazaar.

There were 18 crewmen in the boat. Two of the fishermen were rescued by other fishing boats in the sea. Some were Rohingyas and some Bangladeshi residents of Cox’s Bazaar, he added.

The owner is Salamatullah of Cox’s Bazaar.

On December 29, 2009, they went to the Bay of Bengal for fishing. After four days, they were beaten up by pirates and their fishing nets, engines and the boat snatched, said another boatman.

One dead was thought to be Rahim Ullah 30 a Rohingya, of Pahartali under Cox’s Bazaar district. But, the body has been not found yet.

However, the seized boat was found in Chittagong. No arrests were made.

A case has been filed against the pirates in Cox’s Bazaar police station, said another fisherman.