In a tragic maritime incident near the sensitive India-Bangladesh border, the bodies of two fishermen were recovered on Wednesday from a sunken fishing trawler. The vessel, FB Paramita-11, had allegedly been struck by a Bangladeshi naval ship last month, leading to its sinking and a desperate search for survivors.
Recovery Operation and Grim Discovery
The sunken trawler was finally located on a sandbar within the Saptamukhi river, enabling recovery teams to access the wreck. On Wednesday, December 27, the bodies of the two missing fishermen were retrieved from the vessel. The deceased have been identified as Sanjeeb Das (56), a resident of Gangadharpur in Kakdwip, and Ranjan Das (50), who hailed from Dubrajpur in East Burdwan. The trawler is now being towed back to Kakdwip for further investigation.
Timeline of the Sinking and Rescue
The disaster unfolded on December 15 when the fishing trawler sank off the coast of Kakdwip in West Bengal. Initial rescue efforts succeeded in saving eleven people from the waters. However, five fishermen were reported missing following the collision near the India-Bangladesh Maritime Boundary Line (MBL). With the recovery of two bodies, the fate of three fishermen remains unknown, casting a shadow of grief over the coastal community.
Persistent Hope Amidst Tragedy
Despite the somber recovery, local fishing unions have not given up hope for the three men still missing. Satinath Patra, the secretary of the Sundarbans Samudrik Matsyajibi Shromik Union, pointed to past miracles to sustain optimism. "There have been instances where fishermen have survived after drifting at sea for more than a week," Patra stated. He specifically recalled the case of fisherman Subal Das, who once survived under remarkably similar circumstances, proving that hope should not be abandoned.
The incident highlights the ongoing perils faced by fishermen operating near contentious maritime boundaries and has raised serious questions about safety and protocols in the region. The community now awaits the completion of the salvage operation and official findings regarding the cause of the collision.
