A rescue operation conducted from yesterday morning failed to trace any of the missing fishermen or trawlers as at 12 noon.

Some trawlers were returning from the high sea in a fleet when a depression in the Bay on Wednesday forced them to stop their journey and head for safer places.

FB Meghna with its nine crew sank at Mohipur, some 80 kilometres off Kuakata sea-beach.

Because of the turbulent sea, other boats of the fleet could not save or rescue any crew of FB Meghna, sources said, adding that the rest of the trawlers of the fleet reached shore in Meher Ali, Beyddar Khal, Char Aonga, and Haela Pathorghata areas safely.

Three other missing trawlers FB Ma, FB Kheya and FB Mayer Doya, with 18 crew on board were scheduled to return on Wednesday, Mahipur Fish Traders' Association President Abdus Salam said.

In rough weather, the boats were supposed to take shelter in safer places but probably they had sunk, he said.

Meanwhile, three trawlers sent by the association to search for the missing trawlers returned without any information of them yesterday.